Research shows that there are ten basic strategies that people consider most effective in dealing with the obstacles or challenges that come their way.
Set Goals. Make them explicit, something that can be achieved in the near future, challenging and attainable.
Write the goals down.
Make each goal build on the past. You should be able to see a progression.
Offer yourself a small reward. Pat yourself on the back whenever you score yourself a victory on the way toward your goal.
Social support. Surround yourself with people who believe in you and support your goals.
Orchestrate the environment. Make sure you have all the required equipment and have arranged your schedule so you are able to perform the necessary tasks. This might also include observing others whose achievements inspire you.
Start with a non-competitive situation. Challenge yourself first. After you have met your personal goal, you can pit yourself against others, if you desire.
Monitor your progress. Periodically check to see if you are moving in the right direction, closer to your goal.
Adjust your approach. If, after monitoring your progress, you find that you have veered away from your goal, change your course. Numbers 8 and 9 may have to be repeated several times before you achieve your ultimate goal.
Make these steps a habit. Then each time you have a new goal, you will automatically be able to repeat these ten steps.
It's a lot easier to put on a happy face at the office when things are going well. But in lean times amid hiring freezes and an unpredictable future, it can be difficult to remain optimistic when you're on the job, especially when bad news about the economy is prevalent.
Sonja Lyubomirsky, author of "The How of Happiness: A New Approach to Getting the Life You Want," has pinpointed several strategies to help anyone become happy. She claims, "Everything I say is based on science. The strategies I've chosen are supported by studies that have tested them."
To start seeing your morning cup of coffee as half full, Lyubomirsky recommends that workers:
1. Embrace Gratitude. "Focus on really appreciating what you have at work. Maybe it's a valued colleague or your boss. Or maybe it's merely the fact that you don't have to drive very far to get there," she says, adding, "You can also express gratitude directly to people in the workplace, which can really strengthen your connections with your coworkers."
2. Commit Random Acts of Kindness. Lyubomirsky recommends doing things to help your coworkers without being prompted. "Give a colleague a ride to the airport. Or offer up one of your own sick days to someone who doesn't have any left." She points out that the benefits of committing these acts are good for both parties. "It's a good thing to do -- and it also makes you happier in the process."
3. Be Optimistic. Instead of getting bogged down in the challenges of today, she urges, "Think about the future. Think about your goals. Imagine your dreams coming true." If you don't think about things in an optimistic way, you could fall prey to a self-fulfilling prophecy, in which you've set yourself up for failure.
4. Reach out to Others. Don't isolate yourself from your office mates. Instead, reach out and engage people. Lyubomirsky, who is a professor of psychology at University of California, Riverside, says, "Social support is very important. Being around other people boosts positive emotions. It's almost like a miracle!"
5. Refuse to Ruminate. When engaging with others around the workplace, focus on problem solving -- not stewing. Says the researcher and writer, "Rumination is just going over and over the same thing and dwelling on it. It doesn't go anywhere, and it just makes you feel worse. You think you're going to get insight, but you're really just going from A to B to A to B. Avoid going in a circle and try to problem-solve together to move forward.
There are also other practical and simple shortcuts to happiness, as discovered by a group of researchers in the U.K. and discussed in the BBC documentary "Making Slough Happy," which aired in 2005. They recommend any of these office-friendly tactics to help buoy your spirits:
* "Plant something and nurture it." There are plants that will thrive in even the lowest light, and caring for one can add a bright touch to a dreary workplace.
* "Give yourself a treat every day and take the time to really enjoy it." Whether it's a chocolate after lunch or a cup of your favorite tea, a rewarding ritual can help you feel positive.
* "Have a good laugh at least once a day." Find your funniest coworker -- or head over to Sling.com or YouTube.com -- for a chuckle on your lunch break.
* "Smile at and/or say hello to a stranger at least once each day." Perhaps it's during your commute or in the company cafeteria, but take time to spread some goodwill to someone you don't know.
Most working parents know the drill well — you’re at the office, trying to finish a report for your boss, prepare a presentation for your client or just get through your e-mail inbox, when the phone rings.
It’s your child’s school, and suddenly you need to drop everything to deal with an unexpected emergency.
Chances are, if you’re a woman, that’s a more common scenario than if you’re a man.
An Elle/MSNBC.com survey of more than 60,000 people found that about 15 percent of people thought their female bosses’ child care responsibilities interfered with their ability to do their job. Only about half that many — or 7 percent — thought child care duties were interfering with their male bosses’ workday.
The Work & Power survey didn’t ask how many respondents’ bosses had children, which the survey’s creators said could make it difficult to assess the overall scope of the issue.
Still, the fact that female bosses were more than twice as likely to be seen as having family obligations interfere with work tasks wasn’t surprising to experts. They say women still bear the brunt of child care duties, even in families where both parents work.
“Men are taking on more,” said Kim Elsesser, a research scholar with the Center for the Study of Women at the University of California, Los Angeles, who helped with the study. “It’s still primarily the women who do a lot of the work, though.”
Confidence, high self-esteem, and ambition are qualities that will help you in your career path.
Some qualities of a person cannot be learned, but rather are nurtured and grown. Ambition and confidence are two of these qualities. One of the main pillars of ambition is high self esteem. According to career publisher CareerJournal.com, self-acceptance and faith-in-oneself allows confidence and ambition to grow. Lacking this personal characteristic can put a serious damper on your career goals. Here is how to let your personality shine and make way for your professional life.
High self-esteem
Low self-esteem is one of the major stumbling blocks to achieving your goals. CareerJournal.com says no personal characteristic is more important to workplace success than self-esteem. Self-esteem is the foundation for all the other characteristics you want to build. Ways to increase your self-esteem include:
Stomp negative thoughts - Recognize when you are thinking negative and change attitude. Power of mind over body.
Deal with disappointment - Instead of crushing yourself over something that went afoul, focus on what you learned and how to do it better next time.
Goal Focused - A good example is overweight people trying to slim down. Instead of focusing on what is not being accomplished, think about your goal, in this case: what will life be like as a healthy person?
Be realistic about yourself. Don't set outlandish goals that are impossible. Shoot for the moon, but set a realistic path to get there so you will limit disappointment.
If you want to discover the best paying careers for women, then this article could give you the vital information you need.
This is no longer a man’s world. These days, more and more women are actually earning higher salaries than their male counterparts. If you feel like you’re not exactly among these so-called high earners, then you’re probably not in the right career. Let’s face it. Some jobs do pay better than most. If you want in on the whole jig, you might want to shift to the best paying careers for women.
These careers definitely lead to the good life. What woman doesn’t want to earn a higher salary and to afford all the things that she wants in life, right? If it’s a change of direction you want, then here’s a list of some of the best paying careers for women.
1) Gynecology is a woman’s turf.
Not to say that male gynecologists aren’t just as good as female gynecologists. However, you have to admit that women would most likely choose female gynecologists over their male counterparts.
A lot of patients don’t exactly welcome the idea of a stranger talking to them about such a private issue, much less a male stranger. That usually makes the whole routine check-up even more awkward than it is. Besides, husbands and boyfriends don’t exactly go for male gynecologists either.
Here’s another reason why gynecology is one of the best paying careers for women: Aside from the obvious stream of patients you’ll have, you also get to charge them per session.
A quick check-up that doesn’t last for more than five minutes already gives you an instant paycheck. And unless dictated otherwise by your contract with the hospital or medical lab, you are usually free to divide your time between hospital A and hospital B. This gives you more opportunities to earn a decent income and still use the same skills.
2) It pays to be fashion forward.
One of the best paying careers for women is a career in fashion. A lot of girls grow up following a certain style icon or trendsetter. Most women have developed their own sense of style throughout the years; and fashion has somehow become imbued in their system.
Working in fashion might be challenging, but it is also fun. You might start out as a simple assistant, but think about the freebies and the connections you’ll get in return.
And of course, once your name is echoed in the fashion industry, you don’t even have to bother counting your monthly income anymore because you know you’re set for life.
3) Psyche yourself into a career change.
Psychiatrists are also among the best-paid professionals in the industry. (Haven’t you noticed how elegant and rich most of their offices are?)
Consider that most psychiatrists like to charge by the hour, and that their patients aren’t always there just for a one-time session. Besides, there is no gender inequality in psychiatry. Patients go to doctors who can treat them. If you’re good at what you do, then you are much likely to succeed.
These are just some of the best paying careers for women. Despite the promise of staggering figures, you also need to put in some work and dedication to achieve success in these fields.
Don’t be afraid to negotiate your salary. Once you get an offer, you know you’re the top candidate. So have some confidence. People who have the most successful careers are those who are not afraid of negotiating. Get comfortable asking for more with this four-step process.
1) Don’t disclose your pay requirements during the interview process.
The first person to provide numbers establishes the range. If you give a number first the interviewer will either tell you you’re in the same ballpark or you’re too high. If you ask for less than the interviewer is considering, you’ll probably get it—and never find out that you could have earned more. When asked about your desired salary, your first line of defense is to say you’d like to talk about salary once you have an offer. If an interviewer persists, say you’d like to know the range the position pays. Whatever number the interviewer gives, you can say, “That will be a fine starting point.” (Then you will ask for more later.) If the interviewer continues to ask, it’s okay to say that you’re not going to give a number right now.
2) Get the whole offer in writing before you ask for more.
Get the full offer in writing specifying the exact pay elements—including any performance bonuses—so you know what you have to work with during your bargaining. Once you have a written offer, ask for a night to think about it and come back with a counteroffer. You may hate confrontation or feel that you’re a poor negotiator, but you have nothing to lose and you’re likely to get more money. Remember, almost no one loses a written offer because they asked for more money.
3) Go home and strategize.
To know what to ask for in negotiations, you must know the pay range for your position. Check out salary surveys online and in trade journals. Do not quote any numbers from surveys conducted more than two years ago. Talk with friends in similar jobs or recruiters who regularly fill this type of position in your geographic region. Show the hiring manager your research and remind her why you are worth the top of the range. If you are fortunate enough to find out that your offer is already in the high end of your salary range, then propose taking on more responsibilities so you can ask for slightly more pay.
4) Know yourself.
Each person is compensated in different ways—and not always monetarily. For instance, if you love what you do, you may not mind earning less than your neighbor who has the same degree. Likewise if you have a shorter commute. Friends can advise you, but you will be the one working at the job, and you must decide if you want it, regardless of the size of your paycheck. Decide what’s important to you and what trade-offs you’re willing to make pay-wise, but be honest with yourself. Don’t give up being paid more because you hate negotiating.
Research shows that there are ten basic strategies that people consider most effective in dealing with the obstacles or challenges that come their way.
