Do Digital Tools Make us More or Less Productive at Work

Do Digital Tools Make us More or Less Productive at Work More technology means more efficiency right? There’s no doubt that technology has allowed us to accomplish more in our jobs. But within this realm of technology exists a grey area of digital tools that may or may not lead to the same kind of vocational accomplishment we have historically seen. This grey area, composed of tools like social media and a smorgasbord of apps, is highly multi-faceted; each tool has the potential to increase or decrease productivity. Communication adheres to a 24-hour cycle More communication can be both good and bad. Arguably, one could say that more communication inherently means more productivity. But it’s not so simple. Today’s plentiful communication options means that employees increasingly have to contend with interruptions to their workflow and with being ‘on standby’ as the result of checking work email around the clock. Some countries even think that the latter is of such importance that it must be addressed at a federal level. On the other hand, a constant access to phone and email also means that should any problems arise, you and/or your team will be there to address them immediately. A ‘too many cooks’ situation arises With all the apps available to us, it’s easy to suddenly find yourself with 20 different apps for 10 different tasks. All the ‘cooks in the kitchen’ might sound like a positive thing (more help, right?), but will ultimately end up hindering your productivity. Not only will you need to constantly switch between apps and recall where you put something, but so too will anyone you are collaborating with, thereby compounding the negative effects and wasting heaps of valuable time. But with a few choice apps that promote collaborative efforts and perhaps have a central depository of information (like Google Drive), you can easily avoid this situation. Not all digital tools are used efficiently This is especially true of the social tools. Companies that rely heavily on social media channels to conduct communication, file sharing, payment transfers, and the like, risk derailing their employees’ productivity even more. Given that employees need to log in to their personal accounts, it is easy to get sucked into perusing friends’ updates, photos, and following up on personal communications. Before you know it, an hour can disappear from your workday. For the sake of productivity, social media may not be the best platform to conduct such daily (or even hourly) tasks. Instead, save the social media for informal group announcements and general content sharing that is less job-specific. If it’s the inter-office chat function that you like, consider another program like Zoom or Google Hangouts, both of which have less social bells and whistles. Worst-case scenarios are inevitable As with many digital tools, electricity and internet connectivity will make or break productivity. But sometimes the power goes out or the Internet goes down. Such technical errors can have calamitous effects on the employee who has failed to save their progress or the manager about to deliver a presentation. Short of investing in a generator, these problems may not always be easily solved. The best thing you can do to limit the fallout is to have back ups when possible. For example, you can save an offline version of your slide show to a thumb drive or you can use a web program that saves your work as you go. As with any other part of your company, it’s important to make sure that current practices and procedures with digital tools are working as effectively as they can be. If a tool isn’t working, take a step back to evaluate why. If necessary, phase out the use of the tool. Just be sure that the task that was (or was not) being handled with the help of said tool doesn’t fall through the cracks. About the author: Michelle Arios works as Marketing Assistant for BizDb.co.nz.

Although there is not an e-mail resume and writing sample for every business, there are plenty of them and as you browse through the different samples on the internet, you will find the perfect one for you to practice. This is a useful piece of writing equipment that will allow you to get started even without any prior experience in the field. There are some areas of writing that many people are better at than others, so regardless of your skill level, there is an e-mail resume and writing sample that will allow you to practice. An E-Mail Resume and Writing Sample to Get You Started

Although there is not an e-mail resume and writing sample for every business, there are plenty of them and as you browse through the different samples on the internet, you will find the perfect one for you to practice. This is a useful piece of writing equipment that will allow you to get started even without any prior experience in the field. There are some areas of writing that many people are better at than others, so regardless of your skill level, there is an e-mail resume and writing sample that will allow you to practice. An E-Mail Resume and Writing Sample to Get You StartedA writing sample is a free resource that you can use to become an expert in the field of writing. Whether it is your first attempt at writing or if you are not very good with it yet, there is always an e-mail resume and writing sample that will allow you to start.

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Twitter Tips for Job Seekers

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Twitter Tips for Job Seekers I think most job seekers have gotten the word that they need to integrate social media into their search efforts, but Im getting a bit alarmed at what some of them are Twittering.Im eating a baloney sandwich.Im totally hungover from last night. Dont even know the guy in my bed.I hate my life. I hate looking for a job. Then, there are the bios: A party kind of gal who loves Beanie Babies and eating raw cookie dough.Or, Crazed man with a mission to break as many laws as possible.OK, enough. While there are plenty of tutorials about how to Twitter, Im going to give tips specific to job hunters.1. Fill out your bio. This is your chance to grab the attention of potential employers or other professionals. Dont EVER leave it blank. If you dont care who you are and what you have to offer, no one else will. Keep it professional. If you want to include a personal detail or two, keep it tame: Cardinals baseball fan or avid skier.2. Post a professional photo. Dont use photos that qualify you fo r the cover of Maxim or show you in your Captain Kirk outfit.3. Provide a professional link. In your bio, provide more information on LinkedIn or another professionally focused site.4. Be a valuable Tweeter. No employer cares what you had for lunch. Provide links to current industry news, or information on how to solve a problem or how you solved a problem.5. No whining. We all know the job market is tough and looking for work can be difficult. But employers want to get to know people who confront challenges and are energized by them. When you blame outside forces for your woes: The economy sucks. My state sucks. My school sucks, employers fear the bitching could extend to them if they employ you, so they move on.6. Clean tweets, only. Dont tweet or retweet anything profane, racist, sexist or anything you wouldnt say to your grandmother.7. No inanities. Employers dont care if youre going to bed, what you had for lunch or whether you are going shopping. If you cant think of somet hing valuable or interesting to tweet, dont tweet at all.8. Never use the word desperate. Ive seen people say theyre desperate to find a job, either in their bio or their tweet, or both. Big mistake. Employers never hire desperate people.9. Sound smart. Use proper punctuation, grammar and spelling. Using all lower case and lots of text acronyms makes you look and sound like an eighth grader.10. Forget the personal health issues. You want employers to see you as robust, energetic and raring to go. If you tweet that youve got bunions, a urinary tract infection or a weird rash on your leg, theyll move onto healthier prospects.What are some other tips for job seekers on Twitter?Social Bookmarking

What makes a great leaderÂ

What makes a great leader   Not everyone is cut out to be a leader. In fact, it takes a certain type of person to excel in management roles. So, if you’re wondering whether you should pursue positions of authority, it’s worth asking yourself if you possess the following qualities.   A willingness to learn Even though they tend to know a lot already, the best leaders have a willingness to carry on learning and improving. Because of this, they tend to seize opportunities to further their knowledge and skills. Many companies now offer their top personnel chances to enhance their abilities. For example, they can enlist the help of people management specialists like Penna to provide leadership development programs. Whereas some leaders see the suggestion that they may benefit from additional guidance and training as a slur on their abilities, the most clued-up realize it can play an important role in keeping them on their toes. Effective communication skills Having impressive insight and innovative ideas isn’t enough to be a great manager. To really flourish in these roles, people also have to be able to communicate their thoughts effectively. Whether they are giving presentations in front of big audiences or having one-to-ones with staff members, they must be able to convey information in an engaging way. Many people, including managers, struggle with their communication skills. However, there are courses available that can help people to improve in this area. A sense of fairness and objectivity Another important trait for leaders is a keen sense of fairness and objectivity. If they display preferential treatment towards certain staff members or are unduly harsh on particular workers, they can quickly lose respect and provoke resentment. Employees want to know that they are being judged according to their effort and abilities, not on the basis that their manager simply happens to like or dislike them. The most successful bosses don’t allow their judgement to be clouded by personality clashes. They see through this and understand what’s best for the business as a whole. The ability to delegate Talented managers are also adept at delegating tasks. Rather than trying to micromanage too many things, they allow other workers to take responsibility for certain jobs. Doing this shows trust in their employees and it can make workplaces run more efficiently and effectively. Of course, for delegation to work properly, the right people must be selected for tasks and they have to be provided with any relevant training and support. This is by no means an exhaustive list of the qualities that great leaders need, but it does cover some of the most important. Image Source; Image Source

Principles of Resume Writing - Elements of Successful Resume Writing

Principles of Resume Writing - Elements of Successful Resume WritingMost job seekers usually look for the principles of resume writing. These are the key ingredients to crafting the perfect one-page resume. These components are very essential for landing the perfect job. Therefore, without these important items, your resume is worthless.There are many principles that must be adhered to. One of them is the layout. The layout is probably the most important part of your resume. Your layout must be unique and interesting.You have to put in some information that is relevant to the position you are applying for. If you don't tell how you got your job, no one else will. If you do not mention your skills, no one else will either.It's important to highlight your abilities so that it makes you stand out from the competition. However, you must not overdo it. Don't exaggerate it may appear cheesy and it will not help you get the job.The next principle of resume writing is getting it right on you r cover letter. Your cover letter should be your call to action and should be attractive and professional. Remember, the cover letter is the first thing that gets read by your potential employer.In your letter, you have to state your mission for being at the job. Be prepared to go into detail about the duties you'll perform at the company and how you will enhance their business. Write as if you are interviewing for the job.You should also state the advantages and characteristics of the company's product. Many companies that are out to hire consider this information when considering someone for the job. The contents of your letter should be based on these facts.After all these basics, it's time to determine the other principles of resume writing. The other elements include the time line of your education, where you are currently working or going to, and your interests. Other important elements include your experience, skills, and qualifications. Another thing that's important is your impression.

6 Skills You Must Possess to Become a Successful Content Writer - CareerMetis.com

6 Skills You Must Possess to Become a Successful Content Writer Photo Credit â€" Pexels.comContent writing has become one of the most enviable job these days â€" working from home, being your own boss and best of all, choosing when and how much to do. Though it might seem like a dream job, a vast number of content writers face a lot of difficulty when having to write product descriptions and media content.evalThis is mainly because writing skill is not the only requirement for the job. No matter how talented a writer you are, if you lack the necessary skills, success will not come easy.These following toolkit of skill sets are a sure shot to success for a professional content writer. If you find difficulty is getting around to them, you can of course take the aid of professional services like WriteMyEssayOnline , to make the job easier.1. Master different writing skillsevalEach form of content has its own style and if you are a master of each of them, your content will be in high demand. Each form of content differs in form and tone and a good co ntent writer will know exactly what the reader demography of these different forms of content will be able to relate to.For example, in case of a blog the writing needs to be friendly and opinionated, while in the case of an ad copy, it needs to be informative and catchy.2. Be original!You need to make sure that you are bringing in a new perspective and a unique voice to your articles. Plagiarized content is not only a stamp against a content writer’s reputation but it also kills your own style. A good content writer always pays attention to creating their own style of writing.3. Good grasp on SEO, HTML, CSS and WordPressSEO algorithms and WordPress themes keep changing constantly and any good content writer needs to keep up with them. Being a successful content writer does not require you to have advanced knowledge of all such platforms. Having a basic understanding will take you a long way.4. Be a social media specialistSuccessful content writers are socially active. The demand for your content will depend highly on your social media presence â€" the more people know about you, the higher is the chance that they will want to read your writing.5. Have outstanding Research SkillsevalevalAs a content writer, you need to have a plethora of data around you in order to construct the correct content. Being internet savvy will take you a long way. A successful content writer will have a good idea regarding most of the trending topics and will be able to research any topic under the sun.6. Have the ability to create something new from something oldThis is one of the most important skill a successful content writer posses. You need to make sure that you have the ability to create new and unique content on the most old and used topics.By incorporating these above skill sets, you will definitely make yours the best job in the world!

Work as play - the great Alan Watts - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Work as play - the great Alan Watts - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog The inimitable Alan Watts tells us why we should not approach work as work but as play. Take 20 minutes out of your day, get comfortable and watch this. Part 1: Part 2: 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

1 only! - When I Grow Up

Leave Your Job Launch Your Biz in 2018 - available through 2/1 only! - When I Grow Up I get crazy when I hear Leap the net will appear when it comes to quitting your job and working on your biz full-time. Youre a grown-up. You have a roof to keep over your head, insurance to think about, a lifestyle to maintain (no, I do NOT want to live with 5 roommates or eat Ramen every night thankyouverymuch), and possibly kids to feed and clothe and entertain (how do they grow so fast?!). Grown-ups dont need to jump off cliffs, literal or proverbial. Grown-ups can clarify whats needed for them to feel as confident and comfortable as possible when it comes to giving their notice and becoming an entrepreneur and then make a plan to get there. If you want to find your Quitting Launching dates in just 2 hours along with exactly what you need to get there based on my experience 9 years of coaching then grab my on-demand workshop before it goes in the vault tomorrow. And if youre one of those grown-ups that dont ask for help? Stop it. Make a hard thing easy for once, k?