Figure out when you're most productive To determine your most productive part of the day, take into account how your energy and focus levels fluctuate each day, writes Nicole Fallon. If your most productive point is during your off hours, ask your manager if flextime could be a possibility. Business News Daily (7/11)Recover quickly from your workplace mistakes Not only must you take responsibility for your mistakes at work and develop an action plan to avoid future mess-ups, but you should also aim to keep your mistakes from defining who you are, writes Hallie Crawford. "No matter what the mistake, remember to take what you can learn from the situation and keep moving forward," Crawford writes. U.S. News & World Report (7/11)
The Ultimate Guide to Employee Recognition Want to learn how to create a meaningful strategy that will yield higher levels of employee retention and engagement? Read "The Ultimate Guide to Employee Recognition" to learn about the case for employee recognition, how to secure management buy in, how to create a recognition program road map and implement a program.
Army widens program for 3-year leave The Army has expanded the Career Intermission Pilot Program, letting active duty soldiers take a three-year break from service to "pursue personal or professional growth." Congress authorized the program in 2009 as a retention tool, but few soldiers have used it because of fear that interrupting service would disrupt their career. Task & Purpose (7/10)
Your Next Challenge
How to explain why you're changing jobs at an interview When you're asked at an interview why you're leaving your current employer, never respond by criticizing your boss or the job itself. Instead, emphasize that you are looking to get new opportunities for growth by changing jobs, advises Toni Thompson. Business Insider (7/11)
Balancing Yourself
Reward yourself to lower stress, boost motivation Try to reward yourself for participating in things you find intimidating or trying things that are challenging in order to relieve stress and keep yourself motivated, writes Beth Leslie. "Considering how many of us claim to be burnt out by our high-stress, high-stakes world, perhaps we could all do with a few more participation medals," Leslie writes. Entrepreneur online (7/8)
The Water Cooler
Thieves steal entire "tiny house" in Mo. Thieves in Missouri last weekend decided to steal an entire "tiny house" instead of just its contents. The 13-foot-tall miniature house, which includes a covered porch, was stolen from a roped-off section of the Food Truck Showdown in Springfield, Mo., but was found in nearby Pittsburg, Kan., the next day. The Joplin Globe (Mo.) (tiered subscription model) (7/10)
