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From Fixed Grin To Wry Smile?

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Is your face aching from that fixed grin? That expression that says ‘I am happy to have a job, but I am sick of doing 3 jobs, having no pay rise, little feedback or praise and I would like to stuff it where the sun don’t shine?’

If so, smiling at these work signs will change your facial expression and give those face muscles a workout. Enjoy! 

“If ignorance is bliss, why aren’t people happy?”

“I don’t look busy because I did it right first time.”

“Work is like taking a sledge across the Arctic. Only the lead dog has a pleasant view”

“We believe in give and take here. I give my time and effort. They take my freedom and dignity.”

“Who says that nothing is impossible? There are people here who do it every day.”

“If at first you don’t succeed, delegate the job to someone else.”

“The beatings will continue until morale improves.”

If you designed your own work sign, what would be the caption? Do share.

Have you downloaded your free ‘Pain free career change report’ yet?

Click on this link to download it and look busy: http://www.careerstrategies.co.uk/

Have a laugh at our video on YouTube too – more free tips for you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0b8CFaOq6GY

What Rubbish Do You Utter?

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Life is full of ridiculous sweeping statements. An apt expression since a lot of them are rubbish.  ‘All bankers are greedy.’ ‘Creatives are temperamental.’ ‘A lot of comedians are manic depressives’.  

I went to a networking event last night with lawyers. I heard someone describe lawyers as ‘dysfunctional’. Such crazy generalisations enrage me. What is ‘normal’? Is there such a thing? We all get given labels; I was the ‘analytical’ one in my family. We get given nicknames. We have job titles, which create a hierarchy and yet a division. I hate being put in a box – it feels like prison. My job title, if you want to call it that, is self-created; ‘talent liberator’ because it best expresses what I bring not what I do. What do labels give us do you think? What purpose do they serve?

Be aware of what labels you put on things and what basis you are using in gossip or discussion. The news feeds people rubbish and many take it as gospel. Everything carries an energy; a word, a thought so notice what you and others express, the basis of your views and the implications. e.g. ‘troublesome youth’ ‘the lost generation’ or about immigrants – are they helpful? I don’t think so. What’s your view?     

Why is a good CV like squeezing oranges? Do you have the imposter syndrome? For the answers to these questions and more, click on this link:

http://www.liberateyourtalent.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=79&Itemid=106

What Gets Your Goat?

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I caught myself being a very grumpy arse this morning. Steam was coming out of my ears faster than a train and Puff the magic dragon for anyone old enough to remember got a run for his money. The cause? Poor communication.

Communication isn’t rocket science. You don’t need a PHD to know that people like to understand what is going on, be kept informed and not caught on the hop with things taken away that they are used to having. My London office base has an event today, so the usual facilities including desktop computers are not available and members feel like battery hens squeezed into a cupboard.

Whenever people get mad, usually their values i.e. what is important to them are being trodden on. In this case thoughtfulness, peace, space, manners and communication to name a few have been stamped upon. Not only do values help us design our lives and work for more fulfilment, they also act as a check for managing difficult emotions.

Are you good at saying how you feel, in conflict situations to resolve things? Read this bulletin to find out.

 http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs042/1102862873131/archive/1104576359789.html

Are You Flat Out?

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Do you get stuck in wall-to-wall meetings with no time to do the work in between? Many employees are working flat out with scarcely time to catch their breath. Full on! Sound familiar? Working at such a pace gives you little time to think clearly or even straight, which can lead to poor prioritisation and focusing on the urgent rather than the important things that would really make the difference.

Over time, this can create a vicious circle. You get more and more tired and stressed and less productive, creative and resourceful. Ouch! Falling asleep on the sofa at an early hour clutching a glass of something can be the only thing you have the energy for. 

 Here are some tips to try out:

Tip 1: Read this bulletin on overwhelm

 http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs042/1102862873131/archive/1103079251463.html

Tip 2: Get up from your desk and look back at your empty chair. Imagine you are in the chair. What advice would you give yourself?

Tip 3: Block out time in your diary away from your work station for thinking, planning and reflecting and coming up with ideas to improve productivity, fulfilment, reduce stress and improve productivity

Tip 4: Learn to coach yourself. E.g. ask yourself “What is causing the stress?” “What can I influence?” “What actions can I take and when will I take them?”

What’s Your ‘Plan B’?

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If you got made redundant tomorrow, what would you do? I’m not trying to be a miserable kill-joy, it’s something worth thinking about so you are not caught ‘on the hop’.  Keeping your CV up to date is one thing. Key wording your profile and being active on Linkedin groups to raise your profile another. 

Many people stick their head in the sand and pretend change isn’t happening and then get slapped around the face by it. Painful. By thinking what your options and having an escape route now, it can make you feel good. Isn’t it better to be prepared and have a cunning plan up your sleeve? To quote a quote; forewarned is forearmed?

Taking the first step now could mean you are ahead, even if change speeds up. Taking time to evaluate your work could also mean you enjoy your current job more too.

Here are 2 free resources to help you:

For 5 free tips, view this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0b8CFaOq6GY

For a free career change report with 2 exercises, click on this link:

http://www.careerstrategies.co.uk/

 

Want To Bump Off Your Boss?

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Tempting? Many people are having to re-apply for their own job in the public sector. If you were to apply for your own job now, would you, or would you rather have your boss’ job? It might feel like a bit of a trick question, as most people are doing more than one job now for the same money. This has the advantages of more variety to keep you interested but more pressure and stress! 

I find that people often stay in a job for longer than is good for their own growth. With job uncertainty about, it seems a good thing to do, but it’s a bit like wearing a suit that no longer fits with the arms and trousers too short for your body. The job that was right for you 3 years ago is unlikely to be right for you now, because we are changing and growing all the time. You could bump off your boss as they are probably sitting pretty too, but the prisons are a bit overcrowded. Could help with the rising cost of living.

If you could create your ideal job for you now, what would it be? Tip – write a job description for your perfect role and compare it with your current one.  Could be an insightful exercise.  Our free report might help you to take a step back too – click on the link to download your free copy: http://www.careerstrategies.co.uk/

Is Your Work Working For You?

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Research shows that between 30 and 45% of people want to change job. That is a hell of a lot of people not enjoying their work and feeling unfulfilled. Many of us fell into it by chance. Did you? 

I have people contacting me who have been working for 7-10 years who have never found their work fulfilling. That is a lot of hours clocked up of misery. Often in that time they have cheered themselves up by shopping, taking weekend breaks and holidays as well as the cheaper frequent comforters of food, alcoholic and drugs.

In the time and for the money they have spent soothing themselves, they could have retrained and changed their career. Blocks to action can be confidence, circumstances e.g. needing flexibility with a young child or knowing they won’t get as a good a package elsewhere. With retirement getting later and later as we will be living longer, isn’t now the time to start the ball rolling? Otherwise the ball and chain remains – a heavy weight.

Take the first step and download our free report http://www.careerstrategies.co.uk/

What Is Fair At Work?

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What is fair at work and who decides? I predict that fairness is going to be a burning topic this year and it will feel like the City are walking on hot coals at times. It has always been a topic bubbling under the surface but the volcano is about to erupt.  Recruitment is growing in the financial sector, which is great news.  

Fairness is and will be a source of strikes, discussion and argument. Companies need to give good rewards to attract the best talent, but bonuses in the city enrage people losing their jobs. Is it fair that teachers and nurses get paid low wages when their role is so important to the health and prosperity of our country? No. What is ‘enough’ and who is responsible for deciding?

 Is it fair that companies fund working women having time off to have kids? Is it fair that women get penalised with higher unemployment by doing the majority of child care, creating the perception that they are less reliable then men, because they are the ones who pick up the pieces when the kids are ill? Who decides how to carve up the cake? Like food in the world, there is enough money to go around, it is just unequally distributed,   

Answers and thoughts on a postcard, by carrier pigeon or the modern way a blog post to ….  

Are you following us on Twitter yet? talentliberator is our Twitter name.

Career Change Dreams Up In Smoke?

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Suffering from that ‘going back to work feeling’? Reality after the festive season reminds many people of going back to school at the start of a new term. A feeling of dread; shining those shoes; buying a new fluffy pencil case; the who got the best Christmas gift parade, but mainly the sinking feeling.

Life can be so superspeed at work that it feels like being on a giant human hamster wheel. The break spits you off the corporate rat race so you catch up yourself before you go completely bonkers and think about what you really want. Mulled wine fuelled dreams of career change, when back at work, often crumble faster than a digestive biscuit.

If this is you, here are some free resources to keep your resolve with your career change full even if your bank account feels empty: 

5 free tips you can do while in employment

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0b8CFaOq6GY

Free report ‘Pain free career change’

http://www.careerstrategies.co.uk/

Energise ‘Career strategies’, ‘Self promotion’ bulletins and more  

http://www.liberateyourtalent.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=79&Itemid=106

Hope they are useful. Happy new year!

Rachel

Do You Find Career Change Daunting?

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Career Change Feel Daunting?Career change can feel really daunting, can’t it. Like a ladder, taking it one step at a time is wise.

Download our free report “Pain free career change” and you can make career change safe. Take the first step now and click on this link to download your free report http://www.careerstrategies.co.uk/