Be proactive when you know you won't be getting a raise | Ways to get an indecisive boss to take more action | Get organized after a business conference
Be proactive when you know you won't be getting a raise Ask for other perks, such as flexible scheduling or development training, when you know a raise won't be happening this year, suggests Deanna Hartley. It's also a good strategy to schedule a future meeting with your boss to revisit a possible bump in salary before the next annual review rolls around. The Washington Post (tiered subscription model) (12/16)Ways to get an indecisive boss to take more action Ask strategic questions to help lead an indecisive boss down the road of figuring out the issue and ultimately making the decision based on the facts you present and the path you've laid out to get it done. Keep it simple and offer an out so he or she does not feel the decision is a permanent one. Let's Grow Leaders (12/13)
Organize the stack of business cards obtained following a business conference into a spreadsheet or app listing the name and information discussed, as well as noting your goals for each connection. Determine whether this is a person you'd like to build a deeper relationship with, keep as an acquaintance or not pursue. Harvard Business Review online (tiered subscription model) (12/13)
Greater emphasis on work-life balance, a shift from wellness to more comprehensive well-being and providing cancer support services are among the health and wellness trends companies can expect next year, experts said. On-site care also is increasing as companies see good return-on-investment, said Michael Huang of Marathon Health, with employers creating customized programs that fit their employee population. Workforce online (12/17)
Your Next Challenge
Ask the tough questions at the interview to find out if it's a good fit Have a hint of skepticism throughout the job-searching process to weed out the misinformation in job postings and interviews, and weed out jobs that are a bad fit for you by asking the hiring manager tough questions. Asking questions like "Why is this job open?" is a direct but fair way to uncover useful information about the company and the position itself. Forbes (12/17)Resume design tips when changing career paths Take a look at several job postings for similar jobs and make note of the language used, and then integrate some of these keywords into your own resume. Accomplishments that were important in your previous career may not be as important in the new path you're pursuing, so prioritize experiences and accomplishments in the new resume design and leave out the ones that are no longer relevant. U.S. News & World Report (12/17)
Balancing Yourself
Sometimes it helps to add stress to fix burnout Burnout can be brought on by boredom, and the solution may seem counterintuitive, but it works: Add stress. Finding your stress sweet spot by increasing the demands and responsibilities of the job can offer benefits; just be sure to not go overboard, explains Paula Davis Laack, an expert on the topic of stress and resiliency. Fast Company online (9/11)
The Water Cooler
Money rains down from above in Hong Kong A large amount of money was thrown from the top of a building in Hong Kong on Saturday, and police collected about HK$5,000 (about $640) after the incident and urged citizens to ignore any found cash or turn it in. The owner of a pro-cryptocurrency Facebook page, known as "Coin Young Master" is thought to be responsible for the event because of a video he posted saying he was "robbing the rich to help the poor." South China Morning Post (Hong Kong) (12/16)
Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.
