How to build your success portfolio

Need a quick ego boost? Want to impress interviewers? Creating a success portfolio will not only give you encouragement and motivation, but you will impress interviewers when you present them with a portfolio of your accomplishments at the time of the job interview.

Examples of what goes into the portfolio:

• Positive feedback correspondence
  
• Certificates and degrees
  
• Resume and references
  
• Past performance reviews
  
• Personal mission statement
  

Your portfolio should be organized. Use a 2" binder (to start) and create tabs for each section. Here are some suggestions for possible sections:

• Education
  

  Certificates and degrees are stored in this section.
  

• Kudos
  

  Positive feedback from clients, customers, and co-workers are stored here. Any other honorable mentions are placed in the 'kudos' section.
  

• Work/Career
  

  Performance reviews, your updated resume, and references are stored in this section.
  

The first page of the portfolio is your personal mission statement. Do you have one? A personal mission statement depicts who you are and where you are going on the journey of life. Stephen Covey says, "If you don't set your goals based upon your Mission Statement, you may be climbing the ladder of success only to realize, when you get to the top, you're on the WRONG BUILDING." If you don't want to end up on the wrong building, define your mission. Here is a great tutorial on how to identify your purpose.

Uses for the portfolio:

• Job interview
  

  Of course, if you are going to use the portfolio during an interview, it should be condensed. You may want to purchase a smaller, professional report portfolio and include your resume, references, and any samples of work you have done that relate to the job in question.
  

• Performance Reviews or Promotions
  

  The portfolio serves as a gentle reminder to your boss of what you have accomplished in the past year. Use it to your advantage, there could be a promotion on the horizon.
  

• Motivational Tool
  

  Do you ever feel inadequate or as if you are not the right person for the job? Your portfolio will help you get your mind back in the game and encourage you to keep pressing on because of previous accomplishments.
  

So whether you need motivation or want to impress a potential supervisor, creating a success portfolio will benefit you in more ways than one. You are the product of your own success.

Customer service has become a disservice

The word 'service' in customer service has become obsolete. Why are customer service representatives irate? Clients tell me all the time about how debt collectors have called them at work and cause undue stress by upsetting them which results in loss in productivity and feelings of anger and frustration.

I was a debt collector in the mid-90s for 5 years for one of today's top credit card companies. I received numerous awards for being one of the most effective collectors in my department. Employee of the month, high commissions and bonuses were given to me because I practiced the following debt collection techniques:

1. Don't take it personal.
   

   Don't act like the debtor owes YOU money. The money is owed to the company and you are hired to attempt to get the funds due. The goal is to collect as much money, if not all, on the debt. The first step in effective debt collection is to NOT put yourself in the equation. The equation is debtor + creditor = collect the debt.
   

2. Remove the negative attitude.
   

   Having a negative attitude will only infuriate the debtor and reduce the chances of collecting on the debt. Obviously, there is a reason why the payment is past due, having a more positive attitude will increase the chances of at least making a payment arrangement versus creating a hostile situation.
   

3. Use active listening skills.
   

   The debtor's situation is already stressful; they will provide an explanation why the payment is late, listen intently and allow them to finish their sentences. Don't interrupt. Make statements like, 'I am sorry to hear that'….or 'Let me see what options we have…' will make the conversation less stressful on both parties.
   

4. Focus on a solution.
   

   Provide options for the debtor. The company's goal is to first collect the full payment. If full payment cannot be received, collect a portion of the payment rather than none. Aggravating the debtor by speaking in a condescending attitude will only add fuel to their fire. My motto was, 'collect some rather than none.'
   

5. Use empathy and compassion.
   

   Put yourself in the debtor's shoes. It is hypocritical to act as if you, the debt collector, have never been late on a debt or have never had to contact a creditor to ask for an extension or a payment plan. Identify with the debtor's situation and come up with a solution.
   

6. End the call on a positive note.
   

   After diffusing the situation by listening and devising a plan that is acceptable to both the company and the debtor, end the call on a positive note. Say something like, 'thank you and I hope your situation gets better.' It would be advantageous to setup a follow-up call a few days before the 'promise to pay' is made to remind the debtor of their obligation, determine if the situation has gotten better and that the payment will still be made as scheduled.
   
   Debt collection is a difficult job, but somebody has to do it. If you want to increase your commission, reduce your stress level, and meet your quota, practice effective debt collection practices. You, the company, and the debtor will thank you for it.
   

Top 10 signs that let you know you no longer like your job and what to do about it

Whether you feel unchallenged at your job, overtly stressed, or work in a hostile environment, there is no reason to continue to work in these kinds of conditions, unless you have bills to pay, a family, and other financial obligations that require you to have a steady income.

Here are 10 sure signs that you are finally fed up with your job and need to seek employment elsewhere:

1. You begin to count sick days as vacation days.
   
2. You get sick only on Mondays.
   
3. You go on interviews during lunch break.
   
4. You use your office computer to conduct job searches.
   
5. After completing job searches, you use the company email to send your resume.
   
6. Every day is casual Friday.
   
7. You laugh after each point your boss makes during your performance review.
   
8. You don't return from lunch until your favorite soap opera is done running the credits.
   
9. The word 'deadline' is no longer in your vocabulary.
   
10. Anger, sadness, and frustration are the most frequent emotions you experience while at work.
    

So if you need a job (like we all do) and you have any of these signs, here are a few remedies for your woes:

1. Ask to help on a project.
   

   This will challenge you in a way that you will be able to assist in making an impact at work, which could increase your skill knowledge, experience in working with others, and bragging rights (adding this to your resume).
   

2. Take a mini-vacation.
   

   All of the signs above spell B-U-R-N-O-U-T. The best remedy for burnout is to take a much needed vacation to relax and enjoy the environment and your family. This means no Blackberry or email access. Vacation means to vacate.
   

3. Evaluate your job.
   

   Conduct an evaluation and list the pros and cons of your job. If you have more cons than pros, it may be time to start seeking employment elsewhere. Staying in an environment that is toxic to you and causing you to be non-productive is a no-win for both parties. Don't damage your reputation, find a new job or seek an open position elsewhere in the company.
   

4. Get a Work Life Coach.
   

   Do you want some sound advice and counsel on where you should go from here? If you are experiencing any of the top 10 above contact me today for a FREE 30-minute consultation. We can talk about the issues, your feelings, and possible solutions to improve your worklife.
   

Having an 'I don't care' attitude at work will slow your productivity, increase stress, and dilute your professionalism which will result in damaging your reputation and decrease your chances of getting a good job reference if you do decide to look elsewhere. Not to mention the ill feelings that will occur between you and your colleagues. Don't continue on this road to nowhere. If you need some help in getting on the right path, contact me today for a FREE 30-minute consultation to discuss your work life and how to improve it. It will be the best decision you can make for your future.

Are you a flexible thinker?

A mind is a terrible thing to waste is a cliché that may be overused, but has some validity. Flexible thinkers are people who seek first to understand then to be understood. They use both sides of their brain, rationalize, and ask questions before making decisions.

Benefits to flexible thinking:

• Improve decision making skills
  
• Improve critical thinking skills
  
• Improve listening skills
  
• See both sides of the issue clearly
  
• Hold higher, authoritative positions
  

Are you a flexible thinker? Here are 10 characteristics of a flexible thinker:

1. Think outside the box.
   
2. Weigh their options first.
   
3. Always have a plan B.
   
4. Get a second opinion and a third if needed.
   
5. Listen to all sides of the story.
   
6. Don't make snap judgments.
   
7. Think before they speak.
   
8. Rationalize before criticizing.
   
9. Always seek learning opportunities.
   
10. Spread their knowledge to others.
    

In a 24-hour day, we will have over 3,000 thoughts and in a regular 8 hour work day, there will be approximately 375 thoughts, in one hour we have approximately 47 thoughts, becoming a flexible thinker will help you to eliminate negativity, and think more clearly in order to make appropriate decisions.

Is this meeting really necessary?

I have attended many meetings in which nothing was accomplished. It was like sitting at a ballgame with no players. I have clients who have daily and weekly meetings with their boss with no root objective, just to meet to talk about 'what's going on.' These kinds of meetings are time wasters and productivity killers. The next time you think you need to call a meeting, ask yourself the following:

1. What is the purpose? What is it I need to accomplish?
   
2. Will there be action items for attendees to report on at a later date?
   
3. Is follow-up needed? If so, how often?
   
4. Do I need an agenda?
   

I ask that last question because for a meeting to be effective and meet goals and objectives there needs to be an agenda and it should be followed. If no agenda is needed, in other words, a meeting that serves as a follow-up or FYI (for your information) then perhaps a teleconference or an update by email would suffice. Here are a few tips on how to host effective meetings.

I find it amazing that people go to 2 or 3 meetings a day (or more) and come out of them more confused and frustrated than when they went in; furthermore, unproductive meetings reduce productivity to accomplish other tasks. So, from now on, think before you meet and save yourself some time and energy.

 

 

5 Movies that may depict your worklife but don’t take their advice

In the workplace, we have to deal with bad bosses, hostile co-workers, and angry clients, but the question is how? We look to books, podcasts, webinars, presentations, and television for answers. But sometimes we get so caught up "unreality" TV that we really believe that it is reality. I even heard the phrase, "reality TV is actuality." Here are 5 movies/TV shows that are funny (in a sense) to watch, but are not good ways to deal with conflicts at work.

1. Nine to Five (1980)
A hilarious tale of three women who seek revenge on their tyrannical, chauvinistic boss.
Even though it seems logical to hog tie your boss and roast him over an open fire and he or she may even deserve it – don't even think about it! These days they have places for people who wish to impose these kinds of tactics and that place is called jail! If your boss doesn't want to listen to your ideas, steals your ideas, and makes undesired passes at you- report the situation to HR or the next kind of picture you will be taking is a mug shot.

2. The Office (NBC TV Show 2005)
A show about a boss who steals ideas and claims them as his own, has no clue on how to manage a staff, and makes poor decisions.

Now this seems more realistic in today's business world. There are bosses out there who make bad judgments and you wonder how they got that job. The people on the TV show do one thing - tolerate his antics. Makes you wonder about them, doesn't it?

3. Office Space (1999)
A movie about a man who undergoes hypnosis to deal with his many bosses who don't know what the other is doing, this movie clearly depicts a hostile environment because all of the employees are disgruntled in some way. The hypnosis works, or so he thinks, and he becomes a more assertive individual, telling what's on his mind which works in his personal and professional life. Well, if you must learn assertiveness skills, why not use hypnosis?

4. The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
A story about a woman who wants so desperately to work for a tyrannical, unfeeling, boss and will put up with her insults and inappropriate behavior to break into the designing business. With the way the economy is going, I suppose we really do need to put up with a lot just to keep the paychecks coming. But when is enough –enough?

5. Horrible Bosses (2011)
This movie is about three people who hate their bosses so much that they hire a murder consultant to get rid of them. I will refer back to #1, if you hate your boss that much quit! It's not worth the jail time and lawyer's fees.

If you are having a difficult time dealing with your boss or co-workers or work in a hostile environment, it's time to seek resolution or find a new job, but before you do, seek consultation from a worklife coach who can help you get a clear understanding of the situation and weigh your options to achieve positive results. Don't let TV dictate your actions! It's great for entertainment, but bad for execution. For a free 30 minute consultation, contact me today at worklifecoach@excite.com or get a copy of my e-book, Dealing with Workplace PMS - Poor Management System.

Enter to Win a DYMO Label Printer

Ever wonder where your office supplies went only to find them on a co-worker's desk or in the copier room? Can't find office supplies in a cluttered closet? Is searching for a file becoming a chore rather than a task? If you answered yes to any of these questions, it's time to get organized by using labels to simplify your work life.

I have had the privilege of using DYMO labels and its printers and have made my tasks so much easier. I can find files, supplies, identify binders, and even make reports look neater and more professional.

Using labels in your home or work office will do the following:

1. Increase your productivity because you will be able to find what you need in less time
   
2. Reduce the stress of searching and hunting for files and items in a cluttered drawer or cabinet.
   
3. Make you look more professional and organized.
   

Do you have suggestions on how you can use labels to make your office more organized? Enter this contest to win a DYMO label printer. There's two ways to win:

1. Email: info@getbuttonedup.com
   

   Subject line: Dymo
   

   In the body of the email, make your suggestion on how labels will simplify and organize your work life.
   

   OR
   

2. Go to the Facebook page and post a tip at www.facebook.com/getbuttonedup. Post your suggestion on the 'wall.'
   

The winner will be chosen randomly.

I had the pleasure of trying out various DYMO products and I have been compensated for the reviews (which are worth writing!) So, tell the world how you would DYMO! Enter today and good luck!

10 Qualities of an Amazing Assistant

Nowadays office assistants have more responsibilities than ever. Being able to managing the office and support the supervisor effectively are just a couple of the duties that require excellent soft and interpersonal skills. What qualities do you have that make you an amazing assistant? Here are 10 qualities:

1. Consistently looks for learning opportunities
   
2. Knows how to use what he or she knows
   
3. Builds positive work relationships
   
4. Uses active listening skills
   
5. Is proactive not reactive
   
6. Resolves conflicts immediately
   
7. Learns from mistakes
   
8. Constantly looks for ways to improve
   
9. Asks questions and seeks answers
   
10. Consults a Worklife Coach
    

Your amazing ranking:

9-10 qualities: You are truly an amazing assistant! Any qualities you do not have or have trouble in acquiring, you can achieve them by continuing to read this blog to get the techniques and tips you need and practicing them in the workplace.

5-8 qualities: You possess great qualities, but there is always room for improvement. Don't limit yourself explore your talents and expand.

4– below: There is much work to be done! First, work on changing your attitude and an approach to developing your skills.

No matter what your rank, obtaining a Worklife Coach to help you determine your career path, cheer you on when you need uplifting, lend an ear to hear your concerns, and help you make the appropriate decisions to improve your work life; this is the best investment you can make in yourself. Contact me today for a FREE 30-minute consultation.

Do you use spell check or brain check?

Nowadays with the latest features in technology it has gotten easier to just hit a button and have the computer spell check a document. But what about those words that sound the same but have different meaning or contextual errors, words that are spelled correctly; however, do not depict the meaning of the sentence. See the examples below:

Sound the same but have different meaning (homonyms):
*Breaks and brakes
*Too and two
*Bite and byte

Contextual errors:*'Asses' but you mean to write 'assets'
*Inconvenient and incontinence
*Than and then
*Effect and affect

Spelling errors in a document will reflect unprofessionalism and turn the reader off; contextual errors have the same impact and depending on how the word is used, could be offensive. So the next time you're drafting a document, use the spell check feature for evident errors but also use your brain and look for the uncommon errors. Here are two ways you can use your 'brain check:'

1. Print the document and proofread it word by word, line by line. Then shift focus on something else for a few minutes and come back to the document. You will be surprised when you find an additional error or two.
   
2. Get a second pair of eyes to review the document. They always say two heads are better than one, in this case four eyes are better than two. Because everyone's 'brain check' operates in different capacities, the second opinion may find other errors, like grammar or punctuation, which will help make the document more appropriate for public reading.
   

It is a good practice to not heavily rely on the computer's spell check; a missed mistake could hinder the company's reputation and yours as the office professional. Use your internalized 'brain check' to double check the document.

Do you DYMO?

Summer is finally here (or so they tell us) and this is the time of year when many offices slow down. This is the perfect opportunity to organize your office to prepare for the upcoming months when productivity picks up. Here are 5 ways to prepare:

1. Clean out the junk drawer.
   

   Everyone has a drawer that is filled with little knick knacks such as aspirin, gum, pens, post it notes, binder clips, etc. Take this time to throw away empty containers, organize the drawer, and possibly replenish items that have been used up. Go the extra mile and place labels on the file drawers to identify its contents.
   

2. Organize the file cabinets/drawers.
   

   Trying to find one file in a sea of files that are all the same color with handwritten labels is a tedious time waster. Take the time to color code the files and add a special touch by using a DYMO label printer to print labels fast and easy.
   

3. Inventory the supply closet
   

   The second tedious time waster is trying to find supplies in a cluttered closet. Now is the time to organize the closet by using labels to identify containers and plastic storage bins. DYMO label printers can make your inventory closet look 'user friendly' and less chaotic.
   

4. Organize the library of binders
   

   Do you have unidentified binders on book shelves or in cabinets? Putting labels on each binder to identify the contents will cut your search time in half which will increase productivity.
   

5. Organize the media library
   

   Organizing and Labeling the CDs and DVDs that are unmarked and in plain cases need to be labeled so that finding what you need is easier and quicker. Using the DYMO label maker will make the task of searching for the appropriate CD or DVD simple.
   

Now is the time to do some much needed planning and organizing of your home and work office space. While office activities are at a slow pace, pick up your pace and organize your work environment. I have used the DYMO printers in exchange for compensation and I would recommend their products to anyone who wants to organize their office and increase productivity. Do you DYMO?

5 ways to build a positive relationship with your boss

You will spend over 2,000 hours each year at work and the majority, if not all, of that time will be spent interacting with your boss. Building a positive work relationship with your supervisor is essential to your success. Positive relationships eliminate stress, unpleasant work environments, and negative attitudes. Here are five ways you can have a positive working relationship:

1. Know your boss’s routine.Knowing your boss’s routine will allow you to plan daily activities more effectively. If your boss is not a morning person, it is a good practice to schedule meetings in the afternoon.

When your boss is out of the office, plan to get more work done and provide updates when she returns. This will let her know that you have been productive and inform her of your progress.

2. Understand your boss’s needs.Understanding your boss’s needs is important when building a positive working relationship. If your boss prefers correspondence in a certain format, then draft documents in the manner that appeals to them.

3. Use active listening skills.Get clarification, ask questions, and repeat instructions so that you completely understand what is expected. Using active listening skills lets your supervisor know that you understand the task and serves as verification to yourself that you comprehend.

4. Know your boss’s leadership style.Identifying your boss’s leadership style will make your work life much easier. If your boss likes frequent updates on projects, give him what he wants. If your boss is more hands-off, then build a level of trust so that he is confident that you are dependable and reliable.

5. Pay attention to details. Proofread, verify, confirm, and follow-up. Supervisors need to know that they can rely on their assistant to create error-free documents, plan and organize meetings, and make certain that other pertinent details are covered.

The most important relationship within a company is between the supervisor and employee. The benefits for having positive workplace relationships are: increased productivity, respect amongst employees, and reduced stress. Following these tips for building positive relationships will make your employment last a lot longer.