No matter where you are at in your career; it is the soft skills that you bring to the work environment that can make the difference. From front-line workers to CEOs, there are core foundational workplace skills that every employee needs to embrace and improve upon. Skills such as self-awareness, time management, and digital etiquette are just a couple examples of the skills that each of us need to possess in order to thrive in the world of work.
The jobs that are here today may not be here in 20 years. The company you work at now could go out of business tomorrow. Perhaps you have a major life event that requires you to take your career in a different direction. Regardless of the circumstance, the world of work is ever changing, which is why it is important that we all recognize what soft skills are and the role they play in our professional success.
Just because we consider something a ‘basic’ skill doesn’t make it an easy skill to master. Unfortunately, it may not even be as ‘common sense’ as one might think. Everything we do from eating, talking, and yes, even how we approach work – are all learned behaviors. Many people have been fortunate to have excellent models in their lives that effectively taught them most of those basic skills. But, what about those people who were not as lucky? Is the best outcome giving up on them, or is it taking the time to help? Sometime the most basic skills, like communication and setting healthy boundaries, are the hardest skills to master because different situations call for different approaches. So those that see the world in more black and white, may not have the natural ability to adapt as easily as others.
When you experience a conflict at work or are witness to a situation that leaves your wondering how the offender didn’t know that was inappropriate, pause and try to consider the basic skill that the person may need some help with. Maybe they made a mistake and placed blame on others, or they made excuses – in both the instances, you are looking at a lack of personal accountability. When you are able to bring the basic skill into the equation, you are better prepared to find a resolution and can see opportunity for an honest and productive conversation about the actual issue and set clearer future expectations.
Skills and habits are two very different things. Habits are things we do every day, sometimes unknowingly – like biting your nails or the order in which you open programs on your computer before starting your day. Skills on the other hand are things we have learned and developed over time. By focusing on your daily actions and how situations and results are impacted by skills such as cooperation, follow-through, and integrity, you will be able to get a clearer picture of how those basics skills make a difference and where your strengths and weaknesses are. You are in control of your career, and if you take your work seriously and strive to be the best you can be, there is no limit to how far you can go.
Every company, every department, and every team member has different expectations in regards to things like acceptable behavior and personal appearance. Since it is unlikely that you will remain in any one job or work with the same people for the entirety of your career, you must be willing and able to adapt to your surroundings. There are of course, zero tolerance behaviors everywhere you go such as violence, hate speech, and dishonesty that will never be tolerated – but most of the basic skills that we all need have varying levels of acceptance depending on the situation. For example, some departments may be pretty lax on things like socializing while on the job or cell phone use at work, while others may be less accepting of those distractions. To be successful in the long-term, you must be able to be nimble and step back to assess your environment and adjust your approach.
We are all works in progress, and we live in a society where social expectations are constantly evolving. This means that we all must be willing to both provide and accept feedback. It doesn’t matter if you are on the giving or receiving end of the feedback, the best approach is to recognize that feedback is being provided because people care enough to help. It is almost always given with pure intention, even if the delivery was off (maybe the giver could use some guidance on communication). The bottom line is that we will be working on these skills throughout our lives, we need them to be successful, and that means we all must be lifelong teachers and students.
Please join us in future articles as we breakdown a number of basic skills and specifically outline on how each one impacts work.
If you are ready to work with a staffing partner that gets the importance of soft skills, contact us today.
The last two months of every calendar year have a familiar and energizing feel of celebration. From Thanksgiving to the New Year, our thoughts often revolve around feelings of gratitude, accomplishment, and exciting of the possibilities the coming year will bring. You don’t have to break all-time records in order to have something to celebrate, but if accomplishment is what you are after – there are a few things you have to do in order to set the stage.
In order to celebrate anything, you have to first have a firm grasp on what you are working towards. Just having vague or nebulous ideas of what you are hoping to achieve doesn’t serve you or your business well. Take a look at what you achieved in past years; how far do you want to move that needle? How can your big picture goals be broken down into smaller goals that can be measured throughout the year?
While you want to set your sights high, it’s also important to consider outside sources that could impact your ability to be successful – for example the chance of a recession, or loss of a major client. Anticipating outside influences is not done in order to make excuses for falling short, but to help you prepare to overcome them. Will you need more staff? What about skills-enhancing training for your team. Whatever the obstacle may be, having a plan in place can help mitigate the impact.
You can have all the business goals in the world mapped out in your mind, but the fact is it is unlikely you will have much direct impact on whether or not the goals are accomplished. The key is to get your team (from leadership down) invested. That all begins with communication, and ends with effective performance management. How does each department play into meeting the targets? What are the activities they should be doing in order to be successful and support the team? Shine a light on that information, and encourage them to set their own departmental goals to work towards.
Once goals have been set, and you have decided on how to measure them and what activities you want to highlight, it becomes a matter of managing to your goals. Being able to have quality discussions with your team members about the impact that are having can not only make a difference in reaching the mountaintop, it can also be a great opportunity for performance management conversations.
No doubt you have heard the phrase “out of sight, out of mind.” The same can be said about goals. In fact, researchers have found that people that write down their goals are 42% more likely to achieve them. A well-timed visual not only will help keep the goals top of mind, it can also help fuel excitement and motivation. Visuals can (and should) come in a number of forms. Visuals can include things like tracking sheets that help individual team members focus on those key activities that drive business results and report on their results, or visual displays that marke progress to milestones and big picture goals. However your team chooses to visually measure progress, the end results is keeping everyone focused on the mission and moving in the same direction.
Big picture goals are often large and can feel unattainable. To combat the overwhelming feeling that could cause some to give up the goal before they even get started, you should break down your big picture goals into more manageable pieces with target timelines. When individuals, departments, or the company as a whole meets any of those milestones, make it a priority to acknowledge it. The nod to the completion of a milestone can be as big or small as you desire, but it needs to be genuine and geared to keeping everyone moving forward.
There is a chance that by doing the steps above, you notice that your team is crushing the goal, and may even meet it in advance of the deadline. Resist the urge to move the goal post, and instead start the goal setting process over again. Having goals that are unreasonable, or constantly being moved, can be incredibly deflating for team morale resulting in lower performance. This is another reason why you need to put care into setting the goals appropriately from the start, focusing on the past, looking at potential upcoming obstacles, and also making note of what resources need to be provided to support the team in their work. If you did all of those things and your team achieved the results you work aiming for then celebrate, and celebrate big; then set new goals.
While the holiday season is an exciting time that many look forward to, there is no denying that it can present some challenges at work. Between team members being out on vacation, year-end wrap-up, and the personal challenges of preparing for and participating in all of the festivities, the threat of distraction and overwhelm is real. Fortunately, with a little planning, there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy all that this special time of year has to offer AND continue to succeed at work so that you can end your year on a high note. Here are a few tips to help you do just that:
Lists can be a powerful tool when you’ve got a lot on your plate; sometimes all you need is a visual representation of the situation for your motivation to kick into high gear. When you’re feeling stressed, it’s all too easy to get hung up on the details – revisiting the big picture will help remind you what’s important so that you can focus your energy where it’s most valuable. Start with mapping out your major work to-dos and personal commitments, including dates if possible so that you can quickly identify and resolve any conflicts. Then talk with your supervisor to confirm that your priorities align with the needs of the company, and start creating an action plan that makes sense for you.
Regardless of where you work, there are likely things that need to be done in addition to your regular workload to wrap the current year up and prepare for the one ahead. Whether that’s counting physical inventory in a warehouse or prepping financial statements in an office, start as soon as you can! Last-minute panic is no fun for anyone, nor is starting the New Year with lots of loose ends at work. Starting early and doing a bit here and there as you can will help set you up for success while minimizing the stress factor.
When you’ve got a busy schedule, it’s normal for your mind to wander back to work during your downtime, but whenever possible, redirect your thoughts back to where you are and enjoy the moment. Time with loved ones is what this season is all about – give yourself permission to be present and fully enjoy it! Plus, mental breaks are imperative to your overall wellness. They will help you to be more focused and efficient when you do get back to work, so your to-do list won’t feel quite as daunting.
You’ve worked hard this year, so of course one of the best ways to end your year on a high note is by celebrating your successes! Success comes in many different forms; maybe you learned new skills, honed existing ones, built stronger relationships with your coworkers or customers, or reached for a goal outside your comfort zone and surprised yourself – whatever it is, you should be so proud of yourself for nurturing your professional growth, so take time to enjoy it!
What better way to ignite your motivation and sense of urgency than by having fun things to look forward to? Think of a couple professional and personal goals that you feel passionately about, and use that excitement to fuel your year-end success! Ending your year on a high note will help set you up for success in the New Year, so make choices today that your future self will thank you for!
Are you confident that your staff feels appreciated? Have negativity and all of life’s stressors invaded your workplace? Whether it is related to work or personal challenges, we are all carrying around stress, feeling the burden, and it is undoubtedly impacting your workplace. According to the annual Stress in America survey by the American Psychological Association, many adults say that money and work are a significant source of stress in their lives. Cultivating a life of gratitude has been shown to help provide stress relief and build resilience. While there is no way for you to solve all the woes in the world, one thing you can do to make a positive impact is to create a culture of gratitude; here is how.
The first step in creating a culture of gratitude is recognizing that everyone wants to feel appreciated, whether they vocalize it or not. In instances of grand results or exceptional performance it is easy to recognize the superstars, but what about the people behind the scenes that helped? Rarely will you find a case where even the biggest of achievements were completed alone; it takes everyone playing big and small roles to get the job done. Make sure that people on your team are fairly acknowledging those good-ol’-reliable workers, the ones that modestly go about their work with consistency and confidence, and the ones that lend a helping hand when appropriate. While their work may not have been done with major fanfare, it is no less worthy of acknowledgement than those big wins. Creating a culture of gratitude requires you recognize accomplishments and jobs-well-done of all sizes.
While a flippant ‘thank you’ or ‘atta-boy’ may be helpful, it is not nearly as effective as a genuine and specific show of appreciation. Make it a common practice to observe how others do their work, what their challenges are, and how their work impacts the whole. When providing feedback, make it a point to explain in appropriate detail what it was that stood out to you and why. Take for example: systems go out unexpectedly and you notice a team member is staying busy by catching up on some filing. Instead of saying “good job staying productive,” try, “I just wanted to let you know that I noticed that when the systems went down you were able to stay productive by getting the team caught up on filing. I appreciate you stepping up and showing the team how to stay busy when systems go down. That is leading by example, and how we keep our business running smoothly.” Just adding a few specifics helps to send the message that you truly noticed and are being genuine in your praise. That high-quality level of acknowledgement will also likely encourage the team member to continue those positive behaviors.
We all have habits; some good, some not so much. Imagine a workplace where expressing gratitude was a habit, versus merely something done out of obligation. Make it a point to go out of your way daily to express gratitude to someone you work with. It may feel forced at first, but before you know it, showing appreciation will be just as routine as checking your email. While some may try to build a case of ‘too much of a good thing,’ you would be hard-pressed to see ‘too much’ genuine recognition of good work be anything but an exceptional morale boost.
There are more ways to show appreciation in the workplace than we can list here, plus getting creative with the presentation is half the fun. The bottomline is that you don’t have to have a formal conversation with each and every thank you. In fact, the more informal ones are likely going to have the greatest impact. Whether you leave a simple post-it note on someone’s computer, send a well-timed email after overcoming an obstacle, plaster the office with a giant birthday banner, or drop off their favorite sweet treat with a little note – it will all be well-received and brighten someone’s day. Also be sure to get your team involved by providing opportunities for them to show appreciation to their peers both publicly and privately. The possibilities are endless, but providing positive feedback should be the highlight of your day, so enjoy it.
As holiday music starts to filter through store speakers, and retail displays transform into something fit for a Winter Wonderland, you cannot deny it: the anticipation of the holiday season is officially upon us. You’re probably hearing more people talk about gratitude everywhere… well, almost everywhere. Studies have shown that people are less likely to express gratitude at work than anywhere else. That’s a lost opportunity, considering the host of benefits that gratitude has to offer, such as improved job satisfaction, increased self-confidence, stronger and more productive peer relationships, and an all-around more positive work environment. Here are a few tips on how to reap some of these amazing benefits by expressing sincere gratitude in your place of employment.
Whether the task they completed was part of their normal job duties, or they went above-and-beyond to help you with yours, a little appreciation can go a long way in building strong working relationships and a more positive professional environment. Feeling appreciated can even make people more engaged workers by helping them feel more confident, supported, and able to tackle challenges. To maximize these feel-good benefits, avoid super generalized statements of thanks, and make your compliment as specific as possible so your coworker knows exactly what it is that you are appreciative of. For example, instead of “thanks for the great work today,” try something like, “I really appreciated your help with those spreadsheets this afternoon – your expertise with formulas made finishing that project SO much easier – thank you!”
One of the easiest ways to show gratitude at work (and to improve your work environment) is by helping a coworker so that you can reach your shared goals. In fact, the success of most businesses depends on the ability of its workers to come together in support of its mission. We all have busy schedules and deadlines, so it means a lot when you take time out of your busy day to help someone else (and therefore your whole team) succeed. Not only does this help you demonstrate a level of professional courtesy, it also helps build a sense of camaraderie by showing your workers that you’ve got their back, and you’re invested in a positive outcome for the team. Your help doesn’t need to be some big elaborate gesture – it could be something as simple as offering advice on a work challenge you’ve conquered before, sharing an Excel shortcut that could save a coworker some time, or lending a hand with a project when someone is obviously swamped. Never underestimate the powerful impact a small gesture of kindness could have on someone, or the way that impact could transform your work environment for the better. Plus, to give is also to receive, so if you are willing to help out your peers, don’t be surprised when the favor is returned.
Many people, especially those who are used to fast-paced work environments, find themselves in the habit of always having their eyes on the next goal to be met or improvement to be made, and that is great! However, make sure you’re not failing to extend some gratitude to yourself by appreciating how far you’ve already come. The hard work you’ve done thus far has helped you hone your existing skills, build new ones, and discover things about yourself that you wouldn’t have otherwise. Be kind to yourself and celebrate your successes – it will help you tackle everything that follows with an improved sense of confidence and optimism.
If you are interested in steady, long-term work in a light industrial, production oriented environment, we have an upcoming event you don’t want to miss.
On Monday, October 29th, from 9am-2pm, we will be shining a spotlight on one of our business partners, an innovative Maine-based company that served the world through laboratory diagnostic services and products. IDEXX is one of Maine’s most well-recognized and respected companies, and they are looking for several new team members to fill a variety of job openings.
Anyone interested in stable work in greater Portland is encouraged to come into our office to learn more about the variety of openings we have for IDEXX, including: Inspection Technicians, Coating Technicians, Food Prep Workers, Warehouse Associates, Laboratory Technicians, and Manufacturing Production Specialists. We have multiple positions available on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd shift.
At this special hiring event you can expect to meet with a recruiter to discuss the variety of positions we have available, your work history, and complete the application process. To make your visit even more enjoyable we will also be providing coffee and snacks, and new applicants will be entered into a drawing for a fun prize.
When you come to the event please bring with you two forms of ID, a resume (if you have one), and be prepared to discuss in detail your work history. If you have not previously registered with Manpower, you can save yourself some time by creating a candidate profile online before you arrive. To create a candidate profile please click here.
We are looking for candidates who have a good grip on how important it is to have a good attendance record and work ethic.
Attention to detail is a must have skill in environments where clients are relying on the accuracy of the product.
While not all positions require it, if you have previous manufacturing, production, or warehouse skills it is an asset.
Carefully following directions is critical to your success. We are looking for candidates with effective written and verbal communication skills.
This company has both a rich history and staying power which means there is no shortage of work to be done. This means you can count on a steady paycheck with full-time hours and a variety of shifts to choose from.
From doing work that has a global impact, to working at a state-of-the-art campus, and working at a Fortune 500 company, you will proudly be able to tell people about your job.
The size and scope of the organization offers you a number of opportunities to learn new things, potentially move into different departments, and gain experience that is respected by many other employers in Maine.
As an IDEXX associate you will have access to their onsite dining facility as well as a discounted membership to their onsite fitness room. Not many other organizations offer such amenities.
Locally owned.
Globally connected.
