Presentation Skills Examples Tips to Improve Yours

Presentation Skills Examples Tips to Improve Yours Presentation is key.Michelin-starred chefs and Broadway actors alike know this.AndIts true whether youre preparing for a job interview, company meeting, or promotion to the position of a public relations manager.Well, no problem, becauseThis article will show you:The top ways to improve your presentation skills, public speaking, and speech delivery.Presentation skills list and examples for a resume, cover letter, and job interview.How to give a good presentation in any situation, with more than two dozen tips.The best presentation skills you need for jobs and creative presentation ideas.Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. Its fast and easy to use. Plus, youll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.Sample resume made with our builderSee more templates and create your resume here.One of our users, Nikos, had this to say:[I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My resume is now on e page long, not three. With the same stuff.Create your resume nowHere are some other skills guides to help you along:Analytical SkillsCommunication SkillsConceptual SkillsCreative Thinking SkillsCritical Thinking SkillsDecision Making SkillsInterpersonal SkillsLanguage SkillsLeadership SkillsManagement SkillsMarketing SkillsOrganizational SkillsProblem Solving SkillsProject Management SkillsSkills on a ResumeTeamwork SkillsTechnical SkillsTime Management SkillsTransferable Skills1Presentation Skills Definition List of Main Presentation TypesFirst of all, what are presentation skills?Presentation skills are the abilities one needs in order to deliver compelling, engaging, informative, transformative, educational, enlightening, and/or instructive presentations. Central to effective presentation skills are public speaking, tone of voice, body language, creativity, and delivery.That said, there are several types of presentations:Main Types of PresentationsPersuasive PresentationsPers uasive presentations are those given to arouse the audience to make the decision which the presenter hopes for. An example might be a startup founder delivering a presentation to an angel in the hopes of getting investment or a salesperson pitching a product to customers.Instructional PresentationsInstructional presentations are those given to guide the audience on a new policy, law, etc. For example, an HR manager might hold an onboarding presentation to instruct new employees on the rules of the company.Informative PresentationsInformative presentations give information about a new procedure, benefit, etc. One example might be a company HR presentation where the manager gives information about the new bonus requirements.Inspirational PresentationsInspirational presentations are similar to persuasive presentations, but here the speaker aims to boost morale or increase brand pride, for example. Another example would be the rousing conclusion of a TED Talk speaker as they wrap up the ir speech.Heres a beautiful example of an inspirational presentation about, well, presentations:And, there are several presentation delivery methods:Presentation Delivery MethodsExtemporaneous presentations are those you deliver without any preparation, though you plan it beforehand.Memorized presentations are those you learn by heart. Hard to get right, but compelling if it is!Manuscript presentations are those you deliver from a pre-written script or notes.Impromptu presentations are similar to extemporaneous presentations, but you decide on and deliver them on the spot.Pro Tip: Whats the difference between a speech and a presentation? A speech is just plain ol spoken word read or delivered based on a written draft while a presentation gets creative with interaction, videos, slides, etc.Skills in general are broken down into soft skills(those you develop throughout life, like communication skills) and hard skills(those you study, such as computer skills). For more on this, check o ut: Soft Skills vs Hard Skills for a Job: What Employers Look For2How to Improve Your Presentation Skills [25 Steps]Some people are born entertainers or have an innate eidetic memory (the ability to recall things from memory with great clarity from just a moment of exposure).The rest of us always have room for growth.No matter what the situationHere are the best ways to improve presentation skills:1. Prepare Your Presentation in AdvanceThere are various methods of preparing for a presentation, and theyre all very similar to preparing for a job interview.Run lines with a mock audience or friend, like actors and actresses auditioning for movie and stage roles. Give yourself plenty of time to prepare for an upcoming presentation or speech, especially when you are less experienced.And, the last part of preparationalways be prepared with answers to follow-up questions once your presentation is over.2. Practice Your Presentation As Much As PossibleAs with anything, practice makes perfect. Hopefully it doesnt come down to Gladwells 10,000 hour rule, but practice of some length is always required to hone your presentation skills.Practice alone. Then, practice with a friend or family member. Then, always use each live presentation opportunity as a practice round for the next presentation.3. Learn How to Skip AroundPoor presentation skills for most people involve a monotonous, robotic delivery.And, sure, that isnt so compelling.However, whats equally lackluster is a presenter who is unable to be dynamic and find real-time solutions to questions asked during the presentation. If an interruption or news update mid-presentation throws you off, then you need to practice and learn how to handle them.Likewise, imagine giving a breaking news update to the public. If an advisor comes up to your podium to whisper in your ear, you have to take this new news into consideration, altering your presentation to fit.Like improv sketches, knowing how to handle changes is an important par t of a performance.4. Speak Passionately About Your TopicWhen you are passionate about the topic of your presentation, the audience senses it. It leaks through your pores and reflects from your eyes.Show passion. Show enthusiasm. Be slightly crazyOr learn how to fake it.Audience members who feel it on a visceral level, rather than only intellectually, are much more inclined to pay attention and find agreement with you.And, bonus: they tend to fall asleep less!5. Tell Stories in Your PresentationsStorytelling is one of the most effective presentation skills.Crowds love stories. They give great examples of what the presenter is talking about, and they earn that rapt attention which any presenter aims for much more easily.6. Understand What You Should And Shouldnt DoOn your first presentation, youd be forgiven for having a coffee to clear the fog from your mind. If and when it increases any pre-PowerPoint jitters, you know never to drink coffee prior again.Same goes for the way you bre athe, and the food you consume beforehand. You dont need the added discomfort of a gassy stomach, so know what foods, if any, cause that for you.On the opposite side, exercise, for most people, is a great way to relieve any built up tension the night prior.As you practice, practice, practice, youll get signals from your environment, audience, and body as to what does and doesnt work for you.7. Know Your AudienceThis one requires research in advance (remember: prepare!).Lets say you were hired to deliver several motivational speeches to various members of a large company. You nail your first presentation delivered to an audience of interns.Do you give exactly the same performance to the senior-level executives, your next stop?You wouldnt, hopefully.Executives will need to be spoken to in a different language, almost, with different vocabulary. Research your audience to deliver a presentation that speaks directly to them, not some other crowd, even if it was successful before.8. Film YourselfTry filming yourself delivering the presentation and playing it back. You can learn a lot just by seeing your own mistakes and working to improve them.Later, give that same video to a friend and ask for further feedback and criticism. They are likely to spot something you might have missed, because, you know, two heads are better than one and all that.9. Connect With the Audiences Emotions Inspire ActionConnect with the crowd on a gut level. The audience has to feel that what youre saying is important, actionable, and true.Heres what the awesome social motivator, Simon Sinek, has to say:When we communicate from the outside in, yes, people can understand vast amounts of complicated information like features and benefits and facts and figures. It just doesn't drive behavior. When we can communicate from the inside out, we're talking directly to the part of the brain that controls behavior, and then we allow people to rationalize it with the tangible things we say and do. This is where gut decisions come from.Simon Sineksocial motivatorBe engaging. Be entertaining. This is how you truly speak to the audience. He sums it up like this:Sometimes you can give somebody all the facts and figures, and they say, I know what all the facts and details say, but it just doesn't feel right. Why would we use that verb, it doesn't feel right? Because the part of the brain that controls decision-making doesn't control language.Simon Sineksocial motivator10. Tell Them Youre NervousThis is one of my favorite presentation tricks, as I get super anxious before any kind of public speech or demonstration.If you feel nervous, consider starting off by telling the audience such (Forgive me, please, if my voice is wobbly, Im a bit nervous). The audience is sure to empathize with your situation, and you dont have to go through the entire presentation with some higher bar of confidence.11. Use HumorAdd some jokes and humorous comments throughout your presentation. Like storytelling , it connects with the audience on a deeper level, and getting them to laugh helps to earn their attention back if you were losing it.On top of that, you help cut any tension in the room, which is helpful if youre nervous or have a fear of public speaking, but also helps to make any proposal or instructional presentation more palatable to the audience.12. Remove Filler Sounds Crutch WordsFor example, do you, um, give, like, uh, sounds like this?Theres nothing wrong with these in everyday speech. In linguistics, these are called filler sounds (or crutch words), and it is a common way to allow your brain to catch up with your words.However, in presentations, these only make you look incompetent. Likewise, find other ways to improve your presentation delivery. Maybe your hand gestures look robotic, your jokes fall flat, or your voice cracks.A compelling presentation depends on a compelling delivery. Check out this guide from Harvard Business Review for a great write-up on how to stop using so many crutch words.13. Use the Right Visual Aids Presentation MediaWith some presentations, the medium of delivery is set (aside from the speech element). On a school project, for example, you may be required to use Microsoft PowerPoint.However, when you have a choice, choose the right visual aid method. Even with PowerPoint, you have to choose between text slides, image slides, and infographic slides.Not only is there not a single perfect visual aid medium for all presentations, but different sections of one presentation could benefit from a different media format. Maybe a 5-minute video would work great as an intro. Perhaps a set of image slides to wrap things up.14. Improve Your ConfidenceWhen trying to learn how to improve speaking skills or how to improve public speaking, work on improving your confidence. Its one of the single most effective ways to boost your delivery, and thus your presentation.Think positive thoughts. Make a SWOT analysis to boost your self-confide nce. Work on your body language and stance.A confident speaker is way more effective at how to give a presentation than one who isnt, and this is true at job interviews, meetings, and negotiations.15. Get PsychedSometimes the best way to get over those nervous jitters is to get yourself psyched.Consider workouts, for example. How to get over that lazy feeling and get yourself to the gym? Think of the beach, think about how youd like to look, play some heavy metal or hip hop.Likewise, figure out what gets you pumped and excited before entering onstage. Music almost always helps, as does a bit of private dancing in an empty room. Maybe make faces at yourself in a mirror to immediately. Think of the post-show party after your presentation is over.Invigorating yourself with these common routines is sure to prepare you for any type of presentationsincluding job interviews!16. Focus on the CoreA great presenter may have many illustrious stories to help the audience understand the gist of the show.HoweverIf you dont use storytelling correctly, youre liable to go off on tangents which will lose the audience. More disastrously, it could make you lose your own train of thought.So, when youre more of a beginner, focus on your core topic, and dont stray far from its message. As you get more confident, youll be able to step further and further with your storytelling.An added bonus: your presentation will be short, sweet, and over that much faster.17. Engage an Audience MemberWeve talked about connecting with the audience before, but this presentation trick works wonders, too.Is everyone staring too intently at you and you are starting to get freaked out?Turn the attention onto someone else for a moment to help you recollect yourself.Perhaps make a joke about how your partner (sitting right over there) just ran three red lights to get you there on time. Or, if youre on a panel, maybe you could give praise to that academic award your colleague behind you just earned.Whicheve r way you do it, all eyes look away, giving you an instance to get your head right.But be careful and always get permission! You dont want to embarrass someone or say something not meant to be revealed just so you can have a 15-second reprieve. Always ask in advance.18. BreatheBreathing is so involuntary and commonplace that you likely wouldnt consider it to be a potential presentation booster.However, with the right breathing techniques, you can definitely lower your stress and anxiety, whether its on stage or at an interview.Danny Penman, Ph.D. tells Psychology Today:Momentary stress causes the body to tense and you begin to breathe a little more shallowly. A shallow breath lowers oxygen levels in the blood, which the brain senses as stress. Breathing then becomes a little faster and shallower. Oxygen levels fall a little more. The heart begins to race. The brain feels a little more stressed. It's a vicious circle.Danny PenmanSnap yourself out of that loop of despair by practicing some breathing exercises. Heres a helpful guide from the United Kingdoms National Health Service and the University Hospital Southampton to get you going in the right direction.19. Reappraise Anxiety as ExcitementI used to always be nervous going to work each morning. Around the same time, I would also want to use the restroom.That needing-to-go feeling always felt associated with nervousness. However, when I told myself that this feeling was just a normal morning urge, rather than anything to do with workboy did that help!As a Harvard study theorizes, you can use reappraisal of anxiety to help with presentations, as well:Individuals can reappraise anxiety as excitement using minimal strategies such as self-talk (e.g., saying I am excited out loud) or simple messages (e.g., get excited), which lead them to feel more excited, adopt an opportunity mind-set (as opposed to a threat mind-set), and improve their subsequent performance.Now, when I go to work each morning, Im excited.20. U se the ToiletAs I stated in my story example above, that need-to-go feeling may become associated in your mind with nervousness.So, go to the bathroom.And go even when you dont have to, just in case your portion of the presentation or the questions afterwards runs longer than expected.21. Mingle BeforehandYou were probably going to shake hands and chit-chat with audience members after the shows over, depending on the intimacy and nature of the venue.HoweverMingle with them beforehand, as well. For those of you who might be afraid of public speaking, chatting face-to-face with members of the crowd turn them from big, scary monsters to people just like yourself.Even if youre just generally nervous about public speaking, getting a few smiles and handshakes prior adds a temporary friend in the audience for yousure to put you more at ease than if everyone were complete strangers.22. Arrive Extra EarlyYou might have planned to arrive a few minutes early anyway, right?HoweverIts not enough .There are likely dozens of things you cant or wont account for, from the projector malfunctioning to crazy feedback on the mic to curtains that just wont recede.While you dont have to account for everything that could go wrong, its best to give yourself extra time just in case. And, hey, if everything is fine for you, then you just get a few extra minutes to relax yourself and rehearse once more.23. ExerciseOne of the best ways to have a relaxed demeanor and attitude right before a presentation is to exercise. Regular exercise is proven to reduce anxiety and stress, too.Go for a brisk walk for 1015 minutes, or do a few bicep curls. Like a shot of whisky, its sure to take the edge off. Its just healthier and safer.However, dont go too hardyou dont want your shirt to have visible pools of sweat.24. Sit In on Other PresentationsAside from your own public speaking and presentations, what better way to improve your presentations than by watching others?Dont just watch anybody, of course .Find a person or two whose presentation skills you absolutely adore. Whether theyre online or at your local town hall, watch closely and take notes on what makes them such a compelling presenter.This brings us to the next step25. Learn From These TED Talks (Videos)Watch others and follow the best presentation practices to improve your skills. This means having active listening skills when your audience asks specific questions.Here are some more presentations on how to give rousing presentations (how meta is that?):Giving Presentations Worth Listening ToTED's secret to great public speakingThe surprising secret to speaking with confidenceHow to sound smart in your TEDx TalkThe secret structure of great talksThe science of stage fright (and how to overcome it)These TED Talks give some great ideas on improving presentation skills, boosting confidence, and reducing stage fright.26. Dont Give Up!As you continue to present and practice presentation skills training, youll get more and mor e comfortable. Your confidence will increase as your shyness and hesitance withers away.On top of that, youll begin to learn what works for you and what pre-presentation rituals you should avoid.Finally, you wont get the practice you need if you dont continue presenting!Pro Tip: Toastmasters International is a unique club for members who want to develop presentation skills, confidence in public speaking, and leadership skills. There are thousands of clubs all around the world, and they meet weekly to improve.3How to Show Presentation Skills on a Resume, in Your Cover Letter During a Job InterviewSince this is Zety, the premier career platform, its now time to connect presentation skills with your career.You have three opportunities to highlight your presentation skills while youre hunting for jobs: on your resume, in your cover letter, and during a job interview.Well now go through it step-by-step.How to Show Presentation Skills on a ResumeFirst and foremost, relevance is key. Alwa ys tailor your resume to one specific job opportunity.Remember that meta tip from before (watching presentations which talk about presentations)?Resumes get a bit meta, too.If the job ad mentions presentation skills, not only do you need to list them on your resume, but your resume as a whole is a form of presentation, itself.SoThis is how to get it right:1. Presentation Skills on a ResumeThese days, more and more companies are using the ATS to assist in the hiring process.The ATS, or applicant tracking system, is software which aids human resources staff by parsing each resume for the right resume keywords.Dont have the right keywords?No job.Start by bringing out the job description for which you are applying.Here are several examples from various job listings requiring presentation skills:Excellent communication and presentation skills with confidence to serve as the companys spokesperson.Demonstrate excellent presentation skills, including the ability to create presentations and present to all levels of an organization.Candidate must possess strong presentation skills including thorough competency of AutoCAD, Photoshop, SketchUp.As you can see, different companies need presentation skills in different ways. Specific ones, such as Microsoft Office skills, should be listed when necessary.ButYouve got to list them in a specific way.To make the ATS happy, stick as closely as possible to the wording the job ad uses when adding it to your skills section.And, to make it even more effective, quantify your presentation skill by turning it into a numbered professional achievement:Developed excellent communication and presentation skills to confidently deliver over 50 public speeches to crowds greater than 150 people.Demonstrated excellent presentation skills and presented to all levels of an organization of 500+ employees.Built strong presentation skills and competency with AutoCAD, Photoshop, SketchUp, creating 25+ presentations which were responsible for $500,000 in sales revenue.Were you a public speaker in the past?Then you have an even better way to list presentation skills on a resume.Instead of in the skills section, youll create an extra resume section specifically called Presentations or Public Speaking.Heres an example of how to include presentations on a resume:Presentations Talks2018-04-01TED Talk,How to Use the Higgs Boson to Locate an Italian Restaurant. City Hall, New York, NY.2017-09-18Astrophysics Conference,Taking Advantage of Quantum Dilation to Boil Potatoes. Brandywine Theater, Brooklyn, NY.Not so hard, right?This kind of section works great if youve given TED talks or been interviewed on a public talk show, for example.Nothing shows presentation skills better than an actual presentation youve given in the past! And it boosts your employability skills even more so.2. Presentation Skills on a Cover LetterJust because you talked up your presentation abilities in your resume doesnt mean you cant include it on the cover lett er, as well.We always advocate for adding numbered achievements to cover letters, too.So, include a win or two in the body of your application letter just as you did on your resume.Heres an example of presentation skills on a cover letter: During my career thus far working as the chief evangelist for Orion Tech, Ive worked tirelessly on honing my presentation skills to perfection. I am proud to submit to you a few examples of my presentation abilities, including:Earned the 2016 Research Presentation Award from the University of Rochester Office of Undergraduate Research.Presented at over 15 international conferences, all with more than 5,000 attendees.As you can see, I have the confidence and experience needed to conduct presentations at all levels See that?Here, we used the body of the cover letter to talk up your presentation talents. You gave them a quick intro into your abilities, then fired off a few shots to prove it, and finally summed it all up for them.Not so hard at all, r ight?3. Presentation Skills at an InterviewLastly, the interview.The job interview is a make-or-break performance for you, and presentation skills will be needed in spades.While most of our presentation preparation tips from before are relevant, here is a quick way to ace your interview:Prepare for your interview properly. Do mock interviews with family members, calm your nerves, and get plenty of sleep the night before.Dress well for your interview. A nice suit or dress definitely helps to boost your confidence before your big meeting.Get ready for their questions. Whats an interview without questions? Our guide can help you with answers to more than 65 common interview questions.Bring your own questions to ask. A good interviewer will always ask if you have questions for them at an interview. Dont be unprepared.Learn the STAR technique. When answering behavioral interview questions, the STAR method is the best way to structure your reply.Pro Tip: Presentation skills requested on a job description may not be obvious. Instead of asking for them outright, the job ad might seek someone able to use Powerpoint or Google Slides and is comfortable with public speaking. Make sure you spot this.After the interview, theres one more time to present yourself. Check this article out: How to Follow Up After an InterviewKey TakeawayHeres a quick recap of everything you need to remember about presentation skills:Good presentation skills are more than just speaking in public. They are a part of many aspects of life, especially in careers and job seeking.Preparation is one of the most important ways to have a successful presentation.Memorizing the speech element of a presentation is not as necessary as good speech delivery.Knowing your audience is crucial to obtaining your goals for the presentation.Always prepare for follow-up questions after your presentation is over.On a resume, list your presentation skills in the skills section as closely to the wording of the job ad as p ossible.Do you have any questions on how to make a presentation? Need help with creative presentation ideas, ways to present a project, or presentation tools? Give us a shout in the comments below and we will answer your question. Thanks for reading!

Dark Resume Template Freebie - Elegant Dark Grey

Dark Resume Template Freebie - Elegant Dark Grey Dark Resume Template Freebie Elegant Dark Grey Elegance. It is what we often think of when we envision a Rolex watch, a black limousine, or a luxurious black gown or tuxedo. We do not often think of “elegant” in terms of resumes and CV’s. After all, they are just documents that provide background information of candidates for position openings. Yet, resumes can be elegant and, in fact, should be when they are submitted for high end positions in more conservative organizations. Most resumes or CV’s for these types of positions will be a standard black print on white background and will have a professional layout. They may have different fonts and certainly structures that are well-organized. But none of them will stand out at first glance.This unique resume on a dark gray background with contrasting lettering colors cannot help but portray elegance and sophistication. And it does so without any need for “fancy” fonts. It is certain to stand out among the rest. File size: 35 KB Format: .doc Downloaded 20,127 times Li cense: Free, personal use only. Please read the license terms for resources. Download previous article Top Tips for calming your pre-interview nerves next article What to wear for a job interview you might also likeThe Freelancers Resume Creative Resume Template for Independent Workers

Smartphone Apps that Save Time Note-Taking

Smartphone Apps that Save Time Note-Taking I bet you are always looking for ways to get more done in your day. Something that helps me? Wait time. Think about it. You stand in line at the grocery store. You sit down and wait on your doctor to call you back. You are waiting for your coffee order. Sometimes those wait times can last between 2-10 minutes. Imagine what you can do in that amount of time. This is the beginning of a series of apps you can install on your smartphone or your tablet to take advantage of your wait time. Evernote If you need a note-taking tool to capture thoughts, to-do items and pictures, get Evernote.  You can copy web links, clip articles, capture pictures, write notes, or speak tasks into this application, and it will create searchable notes for you. These notes can be tagged and sorted into categories so that you can easily find them later. It also automatically syncs to the Internet, which means you can access your notes anywhere you have web accessâ€"including from your smartphone.

When Starting a New Role, Mind the Vernacular Marla Gottschalk

When Starting a New Role, Mind the Vernacular Marla Gottschalk Landing in the whirl of a new work environment can be an overwhelming experience. With a quick influx of people, projects and information â€" it may feel as if you are trying to gain balance while the ground shifts beneath you. Regaining some measure of stability and establishing a new normal is important for newcomers, as they can quickly lose their way. Managers can support them by staying close at the outset, and remaining attuned to their work life needs/goals longer-term. Newcomers should doggedly seek clarity to help them move forward. This includes the finer points of their new environment. As we all know, teams are essentially micro-cultures with developed mores and operating principles. The simple notion of How the work gets done around here can be filled with nuance and confusion for newcomers. One area to consider carefully, is the vernacular used to communicate vital information about the work. As many of us have learned when entering an established group, understanding what is being said â€" and what lives between the lines â€" is vital. What to do as a newcomer: Look around. Consider if you have landed in a group of individuals that are similar to you, or if you are from a dissimilar industry or background. Do you bring a novel area of expertise? Do you come from an industry/organization where the culture might be vastly different from your new environment? Answering these questions may alert you to the potential for a language disconnect. Explore the language. People have a way of talking, but not talking. They may express one thing, attempting to appear one way (such as flexible and forgiving) â€" yet their behavior might reveal something else. Consider the case of deadlines for example. Be sure to clarify what specific phrases such as Get to it when you can   or This is a priority truly mean to this group. Watch for cultural cues. The operating language of a group can also dictate how they communicate when facing problems. For example, environments can vary in both their directness and speed to correct a misstep. This ultimately affects your feedback loop. Some cultures will be quick to address a problem. Yet, others may let you languish. Set the tone. What you personally require communication-wise to remain effective is also important. If language seems to be getting in the way, take steps toward clarification. While you may not be able to change the vernacular, it may help you personally to bring clarity and avoid stressful situations down the road. Have you ever misunderstood the vernacular in a new role? What happened? Dr. Marla Gottschalk is an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist. She explores challenge and change in work life. A charter member of the LinkedIn Influencer Program since 2012 â€" her thoughts on work life have appeared in various outlets including Harvard Business Review, Forbes, Quartz and The Huffington Post.

How Employee Recognition Awards Improve Productivity

How Employee Recognition Awards Improve Productivity Photo Credit â€" Pixabay.comIn today’s competitive economy, employee retention is more important than ever. Fortunately, keeping your team happy doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. In fact, studies have shown that simply thanking employees for their hard effort dramatically improves a company’s success, according to Forbes.Providing your staff with physical rewards for a job well done takes that concept a step further, which naturally keeps your team working harder and happier.So how does an employee recognition program boost productivity and eventually your company’s bottom line?evalLet’s take a look at why awards are an effective motivator and how you can get more from your employees without breaking the budget or using unfavorable managerial strategies.1) Instill Company Pride in Your StaffevalPhoto Credit â€" Pixabay.comCompanies that show respect to their employees get respect back â€" it’s that simple. Your employees â€" especially those who have been with yo ur organization for a long time â€" know when they can get away with slacking. As a boss, it’s up to you to make sure that they don’t; but more importantly, it’s up to you to make sure that they don’t want to.By treating your staff fairly and going above and beyond when you can, you form a mutually beneficial business relationship. After all, no sensible employee is going to bite the hand that feeds. People want to feel good about their jobs, and offering corporate awards is an easy way to show that your organization cares and that2) Make Employees Feel ValuedAccording to The Wall Street Journal, the best way to reduce employee turnover is to spend time interviewing each candidate to ensure a successful culture fit. However, it’s impossible to choose a perfect match of 100 percent of the time.Offering corporate awards is an easy and effective way to connect with employees who may be struggling. A good rewards program unites the staff and gives them common ground.Even a lit tle friendly rivalry can add a fun and motivational dynamic to the office â€" just make sure you keep it tasteful. You don’t want to accidentally isolate anyone.According to Entrepreneur, studies have shown that labeling people as winners or losers can do more damage than good, so make sure you keep any contests lighthearted and don’t give major awards that could cause jealousy. Think a trophy or plaque, rather than a vacation or a raise.3) Train Your Employees without MicromanagingPhoto Credit â€" Flickr.comevalAs a team leader, it can be difficult to know when to get involved and when to give your staff room to work things out on their own. Nobody wants to be the boss breathing down necks and scrutinizing every detail, but at the same time management needs to manage.Positive reinforcement is the answer. Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of employee performances, reward positive traits.Avoid giving awards for intangible concepts such as “versatility” , “confiden ce” or “leadership”. Instead, give your employees rewards when there’s a clear correlation. For example, you could present your sales staff with a trophy when they surpass the month’s goals.Or, a manufacturing company could give the team a plaque when there are no defects or errors for a certain amount of time. Think about specific aspects of your business that could use improvement, and find ways to award the avoidance of those issues.4) Foster a Positive EnvironmentevalWhen it really comes down to it, a happy workplace is a productive workplace. When your employees are in a good mood, they naturally want to work hard and get things done. Taking this approach is a win-win for everyone involved, including your customers or clients.Sometimes a simple smile or “thank you” is all it takes to boost employee morale, so try to bring that positivity to the office on a consistent basis. A pleasant workplace is often the best reward of all, but the occasional trophy or plaque n ever hurts either.

Make your business happy and rich - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Make your business happy and rich - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog What is happiness at work? It pays to be happy. Studies show that businesses with happy employees consistently outperform their less happy competitors in the marketplace and in the stock market. Considering the challenges that modern organizations face, creating a happy organization is the number one strategic imperative and the only way to long-term success. This article will tell you why happiness is so important for businesses today, and how you can make your business a happy one. What is happiness at work? But lets start with the fundamentals: What is happiness at work? This is where we Scandinavians have an advantage over the rest of the world: We have an actual word for it. In Danish (my native language) the word is arbejdsgl?de, and while that (quite rightly) looks utterly unpronounceable to the rest of the world, its a concept that is deeply ingrained in Scandinavian work culture and one that most businesses focus on to some degree. The word translates into English simply as work-happiness, and that is indeed our entirely non-surprising definition of what happiness at work means: Its a feeling of happiness derived from work. Sorry to disappoint, but thats it. Less strictly, its that feeling you get when you: Enjoy what you do Do good work and feel proud of it Work with nice people Know that what you do is important Are recognized for your work Take responsibility Have fun at work Are motivated and energized Feel that you kick butt Happiness at work is There are few important points to note about happiness at work: Happiness at work is a choice You cant force or pressure people to be happy, no matter how genuine your concern for others. If you create a mood where its right to be happy and wrong to unhappy or dissatisfied, people will rebel against that and actually become less happy. Happiness at work is different for everyone One mans happiness is another persons living hell. Were all different, and the same things will make some people happy, and others unhappy. Happiness at work is long-term Its never about blowing off what must be done, in order to have fun and be happy instead. Its not just about being happy here and now its happiness for tomorrow and next year and 10 years from now. Happiness at work is not There are also some things, that work-happiness is not: It is not eternal There will always be boring tasks, less-than-nice people, bad days. Being happy at work does not mean that youre always happy. But hopefully, youre happy more often than unhappy. It is not just fun and games Its nice to laugh and have fun at work, but its not just about that. Were talking about a serious happiness here, that goes way beyond frivolity and silliness. Its not about being ecstatic You dont need to run around in a constant state of bliss, high-fiving your colleagues. You can also be a very quiet, serious person and be perfectly happy at work. Why that peculiar term? Businesses dont normally talk about happiness at work. The common terms are employee satsifaction or job satisfaction. I dont use those terms for a very good reason: Theyre booooooooooring. There is no way you can energize or excite the people in an organization around the theme of satisfaction. Come on, everybody, lets make this a workplace where we can all be satisfied! is not exactly the rallying cry of the century. Focusing people on happiness as in Lets make this a workplace where people are happy to work has much more potential and sends a much clearer and more interesting message. Why happiness at work matters Being happy at work is crucial both to the employee and to the company. Lets look at why. For the employees When I got my first consulting job I worked very hard. I was the traditional IT consultant working many overtime hours and becoming quote successful. Id moved to a new city for that job, far away from my friends and family, but that was fine: I didnt really have time for anything outside of work. Basically, my main goal was to be successful! But after a year of this I suddenly realized something: I was successful, certainly, and I made good money. But I was not happy. I was in fact feeling lonely and unhappy, because all I ever did was work. Right then and there, I decided to change my life, and work in a way that would make me happy. Think about it: You will spend more of your adult life on your job than on anything else (except possibly sleep). Your work will take up more of your time than your family, friends and hobbies combined. Wont it be nicer if that time is spent at a job that actually makes you happy? Soichiro Honda, the founder of (surprise) Honda is with me on this one. He said: Each individual should work for himself. People will not sacrifice themselves for the company. They come to work at the company to enjoy themselves. Also, studies show that happy people are more succesful than others, which makes sense when you think about it, since happy people are more optimistic, outgoing, likeable, motivated and energetic all essential qualities for business success. For the workplace What do businesses need to succed? Heres a short list of just a few of the critical success factors: Look familiar? First ask yourself, where all this comes from. Machines? No. Business processes? Nah. New IT systems? They can help, but theyre not the source. Its clear what is: People! And not just people. but happy people! And heres why. Happy people create: Higher productivity ? happy people achieve better results Higher quality ? because happy employees care about quality Lower absenteeism ? people actually want to go to work Less stress and burnout ? happy people are less susceptible to stress Attract and retain the best people ? people want to work for you Higher sales ? happy people are the best sales people Higher customer satisfaction ? happy employees are the best basis for good service More creativity and innovation ? happy people are more creative More adaptive ? happy people are much more adaptive and open to change Better stock performance ? for all of the above reasons Higher profits ? for all of the above reasons Basically it stands to reason that happy companies have unhappy companies beat in every area, and studies have confirmed this again and again. Happy innovation Furthermore, until recent years, all companies wanted from employees was their time. In a factory environment, all we really need from people is that they do as their told. Henry Ford is said to have complained: ?Why do workers come with a brain, when all I need is a pair of hands???? Today however, we need much more than hands. In a business climate where rapid change is the order of the day, we need employees to realize more of their potential. Most businesses know that their very survival depends on their ability to: Innovate Increase efficiency Change rapidly This is not possible as long as each employee comes to work only as ?a pair of hands???. In order to meet these demands, businesses need motivated, creative, fully engaged employees. In other words: Businesses need happy employees! The bottom line The important thing here is that there is no trade-off between happiness at work and the bottom line. This is not about sacrificing one for the other. Its not a matter of either/or its both and. You dont have to choose between profits and happiness. The real choice is this: Do you want your business to be rich and happy or poor and unhappy. Tough one, huh? The happy future In a few years time, there will only be happy companies. Since happy businesses are so much more efficient than their unhappy competitors, they will beat them in the marketplace. Creating a happy organization The million-dollar question then becomes this: How do we make an organization happy? How do we create workplaces where people enjoy each other, their jobs and the customers? First of all: Who must do something? Who is responsible for the employees happiness? Its simple: Each person is ultimately responsible for his or her own happiness at work. Leaders and managers can never be responsible for the employees happiness, because happiness is a feeling, an internal state which no-one can control in other people. The managers responsibility is to create a workplace, where it is easy for people to be happy. And since the very specific task of managers is to take initiative and appoint resources for specific tasks, its logical for them to start doing something. And heres the good news: Its simple. This is not rocket science, every workplace in the world can do it, and many are doing it and reaping the resulting benefits. Its not even expensive, and it requires nothing that you dont already have inside the organization. A simple model for happiness at work A simple 3-step model shows what it takes to make a workplace happy, as shown in the figure below. The security level At the bottom, theres the security level. This encompasses the most basic fundamentals of the happy workplace, and includes things like: Security ? that you can go to work without being injured Workplace environment ? light, temperature, sound, air quality, Basic job security ? security against unreasonable firing or abuse A fair salary ? wages you can live on The items at this level are now solidly established in most modern countries. Often they are required by law, and are the result of years of negotiations between labor unions and business. The perk level At the top level, we find many of the things that modern corporations are already doing for their people, including: Perks ? free coffee, good, cheap food, etc Pensions ? partly financed by the employer Dental/medical insurance ? in countries where this is not supplied by the state The annual office party ? a nice tradition Bonuses ? depending on individual or company performance The perk world champion is of course SAS Institute, who have the most extensive list of perks I have ever seen from live piano music at lunch to swimming pools and country clubs. Read my previous post Perks gone wild on how they do it and why this works for them. These two top and bottom layers are very well known and understood. The choice layer However, there is a third layer, a middle layer, which many of us overlook. The bottom layer comprises the most basic workplace necessities. If these are not in place, very little happiness is possible. The top layer is about making people happy. Giving them a little extra, to make them feel good about their work. The middle layer is about making people want to be happy. If people dont want to be happy, there is no way you can make them. In the immortal words of Jack Stack, CEO of The Great Game of Business: ?They gotta wanna. Cause if they dont wanna, they aint gonna.??? When companies fail to consider this level (and they often do), you get a deep frustration in management and may find them saying things like: ?Look, were doing so much for our people. We give them a good salary, a gym, child-care and much more ? and they still complain. Theyre still not motivated and energized???. If you disregard the middle layer, and have a workplace where people dont want to be happy, there is nothing you can do at the perk level. It doesnt matter how much money you spend, they still wont be happy. Conversely, in a company where people truly want to be happy, they are almost impossible to rattle. No matter what happens, they just keep on going with an unshakeable determination and motivation. The main difference is this: When you address the perk layer, its about the company making the employees happy. When you address the choice layer, its about the employees making themselves and each other happy. And that is the path to sustainable happiness at work: When each individual is working alone and collectively to further that happiness. So how can you address the middle layer? How can you create a workplace where people want to be happy. Well, I have good news and bad news. The good news is, that where the perk layer is often quite expensive, addressing the middle layer need not be. The bad news is, that addressing the top layer is easy ? its basically about spending money. Addressing the middle layer takes something more: It means that the company must truly care for its people. It requires more of its leaders as human beings. Six happy practices There are six practices that address the middle layer. I have worked with and studied many happy (and unhappy) companies, and have found time and again, that the happy workplaces excel at each of these six practices, whereas unhappy ones always fail at one or more of them. The six practices are described below, along with real-life examples. 1: Be positive A positive attitude matters. No matter how serious or critical your business and you current situation, a positive happy attitude is sure to help. One company that has realized this since day one is Southwest Airlines. They focus intently on being happy and having fun, and one key practice in this regard is that they prefer to hire happy people. Their motto is ?Hire for attitude, train for skill.??? Of course qualifications matter, but it matters even more that youre a nice, naturally happy, positive person. If you have the right skills, but an unpleasant temperament, you do not get the job. The results speak for themselves: Southwest Airlines is the only large airline in the world that consistently turns a profit (many never do at all) and currently employs 30.000 people. Leaders who know how to enjoy themselves and want others to do the same are another great asset, that helps create a happy atmosphere. 2: Learn It doesnt matter how much you enjoy what you do today. If you do the same tasks in the same way for a long time, sooner or later you will stop enjoying it. Learning is also important, so employees have the right skills not just to do their job adequately, but to actively shine! Rosenbluth International focused on learning from experienced employees, pairing each new hire with one of their best and most experienced employees for several days. Of course this gave the best employees less time to work and thus cost productivity, but the upside more than made up for that, since new employees quickly learned not from manuals but from real experiences and felt included and supported from day one. 3: Be open In most companies, most information is secret and employees are told only what they ?need to know???. Why not turn that upside down, and make all information available to people, excluding only that which explicitly needs to remain secret? One approach to this is seen at Motek, which makes warehouse management software. They have an internal, company-wide to-do-list listing all major projects, to which all employees have access. In addition, Moteks customers and supplies also have access to the same list. This open sharing of information means that Moteks employees can make more and better decisions because they can get the information they need, resulting in happier more motivated people. 4: Share decisions The more decisions that can be made by employees themselves, the better. The department store chain Nordstroms famously give their employees only one rule to live by: Rule #1: In all situations, use your good judgment. There will be no additional rules. General Electrics employs well over 100.000 people in a wide variety of industries. Their top performing production plant, the one in Durham in North Carolina, is organized according to this principle. Their organization consists of 1 CEO, 15 self-managing production teams and various support functions (IT, finance, HR, etc). There are no vice-presidents, middle managers, controllers, etc., leaving the production teams themselves responsible for quality, training, production planning, maintenance and more. The employees have shown themselves to be more then capable of that challenge, and new GE production plants will be organized according to this model. 5: Think and act long-term Patagonia make outdoor wear and have committed themselves to longterm thinking. As an example, in 1996 they converted to using only organically grown cotton, out of concern for the huge amount of chemicals used in traditional cotton production. Organic cotton was then much more expensive and in very short supply, so on the surface this decision had the potential to hurt business. In order to make it work, Patagonia even had to support existing organic cotton farmers financially. In addition, Patagonia has founded 1 Percent for the Planet, an organization of businesses who donate at least 1% of net sales to environmental organizations. This helps make employees proud of their workplace. 6: Care about people Companies must care about their people. If they dont feel that the company cares about them, then why should they care about the company? One danish company, the IT service provider ServiceGruppen, even puts their employees above their customers. In one case, an employee was treated badly and insulted by a customer, following which management promptly terminated the contract with that customer. Applying these six practices in your organization will lead to a happier workplace, and to the resulting benefits mentioned earlier. Not to mention the fact that you and others will be able to enjoy work more. Not bad, huh? Get started But where to start making you organization happy? Whatever you choose to do, do it simply. Do it: Now ? today rather than tomorrow Easily ? start with something you know you can do Lazily ? start with 2 or 3 things, not 20 or 30. Fun ? otherwise it wont make you happy Dont set up committees to write white papers and reports. Just get to it. Happiness is something you and I create here and now. Once youve initiated some small, easy projects, evaluate them and see how they went. Use those experiences to do even more for the happiness at work. Here are some easy places to start ? things you can do right now at no cost: Praise ? praising people takes no time and costs no money Listen ? give your employees a chance to speak and listen to them Tell the good stories ? start every department or group meeting with sharing good stories Conclusion Considering the evidence linking employee happiness and the bottom line, Im frankly surprised that every company in the world hasnt engaged in a high-profile, intensive effort to increase happiness. If I were a major stock-holder or board member of a business, my first question would be: ?What are you doing about the employees happiness at work? How could you do even more.??? Simply because happiness is the best and fastest way to results! Read more The author Website: www.kjerulf.com Blog: www.positivesharing.com Blogposts on happiness at work: www.positivesharing.com/category/happyatwork/ Southwest Airlines Article on Southwest Airlines, Hire for attitude, train for skill Book: Nuts! by Kevin Freiberg and Jackie Freiberg Rosenbluth International Book: The Customer Comes Second by Hal Rosenbluth Patagonia Interview with CEO Yvon Chouinard Studies about happiness at work and the bottom line Linking Employee Satisfaction to the Bottom Line at ACNielsen Job satisfaction affects the bottom line Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Creating a Biochemistry Writing Resume - Designing Your Field of Dreams

Creating a Biochemistry Writing Resume - Designing Your Field of DreamsBiochemistry writing resume should be based on the skills you have and what you can do for a company. If you have these skills, you should be hired. If you do not, don't worry, you will be able to find a position later down the road.To help your resume make the transition from theoretical to concrete information, the next step is to break it down. First, you should define your goals. Try to list at least three goals that you want out of your career. For example, if you want to be an organ and cell biology professor, you will want to list three achievements that lead to your goal.This will help your resume appear organized because you will have listed your skills and the possible keywords related to your career. This will help them fit into your biofield better so they are more easily spotted in a database for future employers.Next, you will want to write your outline and your proofreading for your paper. Make sure that everything on your paper comes together, which means that the paper flows smoothly from one section to the next. If you have an outline, your proofreading will be easier because you won't have to worry about too many spelling or grammatical errors.When you are proofreading your paper, take your time and look for problems and inconsistencies. As long as you stay consistent throughout the paper, you will be successful in both the theory section and the application section.Don't forget that the bio fields will be reviewed by the employer and if they are not correct, your resume will not get past the review. So try to get them right. You might even consider using Microsoft Word's spell check to make sure that you don't miss any words.It is very important that your bio fields are unique. It would be more difficult to obtain a job in a similar field if you had a past position that had some similarities with the field that you are applying for. Your bio fields must make your resume s tand out from others.Also, keep in mind that your bio fields must relate to the job that you are applying for. Don't simply list your hobbies and interests. The potential employer will get confused as to why you would want to apply for the job you are applying for, and this can be a good reason to decline the job.