The Overlooked Power Of Appreciation

The Overlooked Power Of Appreciation

In the fast-paced world where expectations are high, there is one simple yet powerful tool that is overlooked more than it should be: appreciation. Did you know that showing appreciation is one of the most impactful things you can do for someone else?

Think back to the last time you were traveling through an airport and saw a uniformed veteran. Did you pause to say, “Thank you for your service?” It’s a simple gesture that carries immense meaning so imagine the pride the veteran feels. Or when you were little, did you make breakfast for your mom on Mother’s Day? Looking back, I admit my first attempt wasn’t exactly a culinary masterpiece, but she lovingly ate every bite. Why? Because my mom cherished and appreciated my efforts to make her day special. I had the biggest smile and my heart swelled with pride! These gestures of gratitude make others feel seen and valued.

Those same principles apply in the workplace. Small, intentional acts of appreciation can have a ripple effect boosting morale and strengthening relationships across the team. When employees feel appreciated and valued, they are more likely to be motivated and engaged in their work. This can lead to increased job satisfaction and commitment to their role, which then can reduce turnover.

Appreciating the team fosters a positive team culture where team members feel supported and recognized for their contributions which can lead to improved collaboration as team members are more likely to support each other. They can feel more comfortable sharing ideas and perspectives which can stimulate innovation and continuous improvement within the team leading to new approaches and efficiencies. It helps to acknowledge and recognize their hard work, dedication, and achievements. It validates their efforts and contributions, which boosts their morale. When employees feel appreciated, they’re more likely to strive for excellence and go the extra mile.

Appreciating employees concept

There are numerous ways to show appreciation to the team. It’s important to personalize the approach and consider the organizational culture, team dynamics, and each team member’s preferences to make the appreciation gestures meaningful. In addition to celebrating Employee Appreciation Day (the first Friday in March), some other ways are:

  • Public recognition – one way is to recognize contributions publicly such as in a company newsletter to give them visibility among their peers and the broader organization. At one of my prior companies, we could submit individuals for a “Kudo” which was an organization-wide announcement.
  • Celebrations and team-building activities – celebrating milestones such as project completions or team achievement with a team outing or social event can be a fun way to show appreciation.
  • Professional growth opportunities – supporting continued learning through training, conferences, or certifications.
  • Employee rewards and incentives – providing tangible rewards such as a bonus or gift card can be used to recognize exceptional performance or significant achievements.
  • Verbal acknowledgment – simply expressing sincere verbal recognition and appreciation for a job well done which can be done through one-on-one conversations, team meetings, or company-wide events.

Thank you concept

Don’t underestimate the power of simply saying “thank you” to acknowledge and recognize efforts and support. It doesn’t cost anything but its impact is immeasurable conveying acknowledgment and respect which can lead to improved relationships. Promoting positive interactions can create a culture of appreciation and gratitude that reinforces that their work matters. I’ve adopted the habit of saying thank you and expressing gratitude daily to each team member.

There are multiple ways to show your appreciation. Whatever you choose, I think the most important aspect is the appreciation to be sincere and genuine, which makes it meaningful. Sometimes I’ll write a handwritten thank-you note. It’s that extra step that typically isn’t expected but is greatly appreciated and will make that person feel incredibly special. One of my favorite ways to show my appreciation is by baking for the team. They know that it’s something personal that I’ve given of myself each time I bake. And if I’ve baked their favorite items (albeit chocolate chip cookies, brownies, or apple pie) can make their day.

Appreciation shouldn’t be a one-time act but a consistent practice promoting recognition so individuals feel valued, respected, and motivated to perform their best. Take a moment today to thank your team for their hard work, which might be the spark that propels them to even greater success!

For more information about how the overlooked power of appreciation and gratitude can transform teams, follow me on LinkedIn!

7 Ways To Revamp Your Resume For A Leadership Position

7 Ways To Revamp Your Resume For A Leadership Position

Are you a prime candidate for a mid-level or senior-level leadership role? If so, you have to shake up the way you tailor your resume for that position.

The way recruiters and hiring managers look for leadership candidates is a bit different than the way they search for candidates in other roles. They’re not just looking for technical skills. They want to see evidence of your ability to inspire teams, drive results, and lead through challenges.

Your resume needs to tell a compelling story about your leadership journey, showcasing both your achievements and the impact you’ve made on organizations. Before you apply for that leadership position, make sure you leverage these seven strategies to tailor your resume for maximum impact.

1. Revamp Your Resume’s Keywords

As you may know, the computer databases, or applicant tracking systems, that store and analyze incoming resumes for job board, employer, and recruiter sites count the number of times certain words are used in your resume. These keywords are industry-specific and unique to each role in each company. Your resume ranks higher if you include more of these words in the document.

  • Include a keyword section in your summary and stock it with 12 to 15 keywords pulled from the job description of the role you are pursuing.
  • More importantly, use these keywords in each relevant job listing you include in your document. They can be easily woven into sentences in your position overview statements, as well as your achievements.
  • If you’re a new grad, have recently attained an MBA, or don’t have all of the experience sought in the job posting you’re applying for, try listing relevant coursework in your resume’s education section. This will boost your keyword count.
  • Fairly universal keywords include terms such as strategic planning, operations leadership, business management, cross-functional, cross-cultural, global, talent management, organizational restructuring, and P&L accountability.

2. Reposition Your Resume’s Summary

Man fixing his resume on his laptop and tailoring it for a leadership role

Each time you apply for a new role, you need to tweak your summary to highlight the right skills and keywords relevant to the position. You also need to emphasize the right capabilities.

When you apply for a leadership role, it is imperative to showcase your skills and experience with strategy creation. In lower-level jobs, you have to demonstrate your tactical execution strengths; in director-level plus positions, designing and implementing strategic plans is absolutely critical.

Instead of writing a typical summary on your resume, change your top fold to an experience summary, which is a list of 6-8 hard or transferable skills needed for the specific job you’re applying for.

Here are some tips to make your experience summary stand out for a leadership position:

  • Tailor your skills: Identify the most critical skills for the leadership role you’re targeting by studying the job description and aligning your experience to those requirements.
  • Use industry-specific keywords: Incorporate terms commonly associated with leadership in your field, such as “organizational transformation,” “team development,” or “market expansion.”
  • Keep it concise: Each skill or experience point should be clear, impactful, and tailored to the role, avoiding unnecessary detail.

A well-crafted experience summary gives hiring managers an immediate sense of your suitability for a leadership position and ensures you stand out as a candidate.

3. Clarify The Context Of Each Position, Promotion, Or Achievement

Woman reviewing her resume and tailoring it for a leadership role

One of a resume’s key tasks is to tell the story of your career. Yours must convey the importance and relevance of each position change you’ve made while simultaneously clarifying the key challenges you faced in the role.

  • Include a brief position overview or introduction to each role on your resume. If the position was a promotion or special assignment, make that clear.
  • Showcase the context of your hire or promotion. Were you the first salesperson in a new territory, or the newest manager in a series of five within a short time frame? Were you hired or promoted with specific challenges in mind? Were you hired or promoted based on specific skills or experience you possessed?
  • If you were placed in the role to resolve specific challenges, it’s vital to note the circumstances of your entry into the position. For example, if you were hired to turn around declining sales, what was the sales level when you started? What sales level or position did you attain during your tenure?
  • Keep it brief. Your position introduction should take up only two to three lines of text. Make every word count!
  • Do the same thing with your achievements by including key details that reveal the larger context of your actions. If you averted a division closure by turning around sales, that’s vital to highlight. If your marketing efforts helped open new market sectors that paved the way for a mission-critical merger, say so. Use numbers to quantify these achievements. Don’t just focus on results; put your results in a larger context that makes your overall contributions more clear.

4. Front-Load Your Resume’s Achievements With A Strategic Focus

Woman on laptop looking over her resume and tailoring it for a leadership position

Most job seekers assume that recruiters read resumes the same way that they do. However, that’s not the case.

Many recruiters read a resume “out of order” (aka in pieces and parts) to see the big picture of the prospective candidate’s career. This often includes reading achievement statements differently than you do.

Before reading them in their entirety, some recruiters briefly review the first few words of each bulleted statement to test the waters, so to speak. They also do this to see if the accomplishments are more tactically or strategically focused. It’s imperative that you front-load your achievements with the strategic focus they’re looking for, assuming you have that experience.

  • In leadership positions, your strategy influence is often a bigger deal than your monetary impact. Begin your bulleted statements by clarifying your strategic impact, then note the specific impacts you achieved.
  • For example, here’s a typical “homemade” bullet written by a real job seeker: “Working on a green field project that would double the capacity of the plant.” Here’s a revamp that shifts the emphasis to strategy: “Road mapped Greenfield plant start-up from strategic planning to on-time, on-budget rollout in 1 year. Outcome: Doubled throughput and increased revenue by $42M.”

5. Align Your Education & Extra Sections With A Leadership Focus

Man looking over his resume on his laptop and formatting it to market his leadership skills

It’s always vital to include up-to-date listings of your educational credentials, including certifications, relevant affiliations, and professional development coursework. However, you shouldn’t overlook other details that can bolster the leadership focus of your resume.

  • Any evidence of your present or past leadership experience may be relevant. So, consider adding present or past volunteer leadership roles in professional or community organizations.
  • Make sure you include any for-profit or not-for-profit board or committee roles you have fulfilled. If space permits, include key initiatives you have contributed to during your tenure on these boards or committees.
  • Leadership courses completed at major grad schools deserve emphasis as well.
  • When you list industry-specific certifications, include them in acronym form as well as spelled out because either form is a keyword.
  • If you have won leadership awards or been selected for leadership development programs with any of your employers, make sure you note these.

6. Use The Job’s Title As Your Resume’s Title

Smiling man working on his resume on his laptop and tailoring it for a leadership job

This is a quick change but a critical one: make sure you insert the exact title of the position you’re pursuing into your resume as its title. This will add more keywords to your resume, and, more importantly, it will shape the perception of your resume’s readers to see you as qualified for the position you are targeting.

Now, this won’t work if you apply for a leadership role for which you have few qualifications. However, if you are well-qualified for the position you’re targeting and meet 75% or more of the role requirements, then this is a wise and appropriate thing to do.

7. Harness Your Personal Brand In A Tagline

Woman on laptop updates her resume for a leadership role

Whether you call it a tagline or personal branding statement, these single-line headlines are the perfect length to encapsulate the problem you solve for employers. These kinds of statements are big-picture by nature, so they encompass the whole of your career rather than just your most recent role.

  • Highlight your leadership value: Craft a statement that emphasizes your ability to drive results, inspire teams, or implement transformative strategies. For example, “Empowering cross-functional teams to achieve record-breaking growth through innovation and strategic planning.”
  • Showcase your unique approach: Use the branding statement to reflect your leadership style or the specific value you bring, such as “Transforming underperforming departments into high-performing units through data-driven decision-making and motivational leadership.”
  • Align with the target role: Tailor your branding statement to the leadership position you’re seeking by aligning it with the company’s mission or industry needs, like “Driving sustainable growth and operational excellence in fast-paced technology environments.”
  • Incorporate quantifiable achievements: If space permits, include a standout metric to demonstrate impact, such as “Proven leader with a track record of delivering 30% year-over-year revenue growth through innovative market strategies.”

All of the foregoing are content shifts you need to make in your resume to properly position yourself as a leadership candidate. In addition, consider overhauling your resume’s “look and feel” to call attention to executive-level experience. Use a clean, professional design with consistent formatting to exude sophistication and clarity. Incorporate subtle elements, such as bold section headers and plenty of white space, to emphasize key achievements without overwhelming the content. Finally, ensure your resume aligns with your personal brand and reflects the qualities you bring to a leadership role.

If you’re looking to land a leadership role, we can help!

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Networking Your Way Into The New Year

Networking Your Way Into The New Year

Many job seekers mistakenly believe that because corporations and organizations are closing their headquarters for the holidays, they are suspending their search for candidates for jobs they posted a month ago. Nothing could be further from the truth!

The fact is that even during the holidays, companies are looking for talent. After all, the new year is just around the corner, and most of them don’t want to be making up for lost time as the new year gets underway. What does that mean for you if you are on the lookout for a new job? It means you need to continue to look by networking throughout the holiday season.

It also means that there are additional networking opportunities that you may be overlooking. This is the time for parties, all kinds of parties—office parties, neighborhood parties, family get-togethers, and so on. There is no way to know where you might stumble upon news of an opening or meet someone who is in a position to introduce you to your next boss. You need to get out of the house and attend as many parties and gatherings as possible.

The great thing about the holidays is that there are even more opportunities to meet people in a relaxed setting than you have at any other time of the year. So take advantage of it! Here are four ways to network during the holidays.

Family Gatherings

People networking at a family holiday gathering

You may come from a large sprawling family with lots of cousins, aunts, and uncles. Most of them are employed, and many of them are connected in one way or another with the human resources director of their company. They may know that the company is hiring but holding a posting for the first of the year. Wouldn’t it be great if you could glean that information from them in a casual manner over a cup of eggnog? You won’t get this information, however, if you stay at home as opposed to going to the family get-together. It’s a long shot, but you never know!

Attending these gatherings gives you the chance to spark conversations that might uncover hidden opportunities. Even a casual mention of your job search could prompt a family member to connect you with someone in their network. People love to help, especially during the holiday season when goodwill is in abundance.

Neighborhood Parties

People talking and networking at a holiday party

Parties are an opportunity to meet people, and you never know who you’ll meet. You could go to a party given by a neighbor and end up talking to the CEO of Company XYZ. Conversation leads to the CEO learning that you are currently available. “Hey, we could use a guy (or gal) just like you with your skills and experience! Send me your resume tomorrow and let me see what I can do.” Boom! You may be on your way to your next job. If you stay home, however, that conversation will never even have the opportunity to take place.

So, say yes to that invitation, even if you’re not in the mood to socialize. Approach every neighborhood holiday party with an open mind and a friendly attitude. Ask about your neighbors’ interests, share a bit about yourself, and let the dialogue flow naturally. The more approachable and genuine you are, the more likely you’ll leave a positive impression that could open unexpected doors.

Get Yourself Invited To Parties Where Your Spouse Or Significant Other Has Been Invited

People networking at a holiday work party

You aren’t just tagging along…you are the plus-one and you serve a purpose in that way. But you also put yourself in the position of being available to chat with people who know other people who might be in the market for someone with your skill set.

This is a golden opportunity to expand your network in a relaxed, festive setting where conversations flow naturally. Plus, the holiday spirit often puts people in a generous mood, making them more inclined to share introductions or advice. Again, if you stay at home, you won’t ever know, so you just have to find ways to get out and mingle with people—and make every interaction count.

Find A Toastmasters Group Near You

Man attends a virtual networking event during the holidays

Toastmasters International is a non-profit organization with local clubs all over the world, in over 126 countries, and with over 300,000 members. Toastmasters is a great way to network in a totally safe environment. You can find clubs near you by going to Toastmasters and selecting “Find a club.” Unless you live in the middle of nowhere (literally), you will find a club that meets at a time and location that is convenient for you.

Not only will you meet great new people, which will allow you an opportunity to network with folks you might not otherwise meet, but you will also have an opportunity to work on your communication and leadership skills. These are skills you will need on your next job no matter what type of job you’ll eventually land.

Networking is a must during any time of the year, but during the holiday season, you may find additional opportunities to get out of the house, meet new people, and network your way to a new job.

If you’re looking for additional networking opportunities in the new year, join Work It DAILY! Inside our platform, you’ll have the opportunity to network with like-minded professionals in your industry and geographic area. You can also network with professionals outside your industry all around the world.

Happy networking!

Dos And Don’ts Of Taking A ‘Working Vacation’

Dos And Don’ts Of Taking A ‘Working Vacation’

I’ve known about “working vacations” for as long as I can remember. Growing up, my dad owned an engineering firm. Every time we went away, it was a working vacation. However, I realize most people don’t generally take these types of vacations. When they go away, their company and co-workers don’t hear from them until they get back. And they definitely don’t think about, let alone do, any work while they’re out of the office.
Yet this summer, I guarantee more people than ever before, even people who don’t believe in working vacations, will take their first one.

I’ve talked to dozens of folks who say the economy has forced them to cut short grand summer plans. “I’m worried how it will look to my boss,” said a woman who just survived a layoff at her firm. “I don’t want to risk being out of the loop,” said a guy who claims since the layoffs at his firm this past spring, workers have been more secretive and trying to one-up one another to avoid the chopping block should it occur again.

Thus, knowing many of you will be working on vacation this summer, I thought it might be wise to share with you the professional dos and don’ts of taking a working vacation.

Do… Tell Co-Workers In Advance

Coworkers talk in the office

Some people make the mistake of keeping their working vacation on the down-low. Bad idea. Hiding it from your co-workers seems deceptive. Not to mention, it leaves them no way of knowing how to cover for you in your absence.

Just because you are technically going to be accessible and will be doing some work, you are still going to be out of the office and possibly not available when they really need you. Who should they go to if they have questions? What is the status of projects you are working on that involve them? Can they call you for non-emergencies? What’s the best way to contact you if they do need you?

Just like a regular vacation, you need to make arrangements for the fact you’ll not be physically present.

Do… Clear Meetings And Lighten Your Workload

Man on laptop takes a working vacation

A classic rookie mistake is to assume while on vacation you’ll have plenty of freedom and can still attend meetings by phone or provide important work deliverables. It’s vacation! You want to be free of constraints like these. Besides, you may not be in the position to attend.

True story: I recently knew a person who agreed to run a meeting with a client while on vacation. He figured he could do it from a local coffee shop that had Wi-Fi. Not only did he get stuck in vacation traffic and arrive at the coffee shop 10 minutes after the meeting started, but the shop was so noisy that his co-worker had to request that he put his phone on mute and was forced to take over the call, even though she wasn’t fully prepared to do so. It was unprofessional and left a less-than-stellar impression on the client and the co-worker.

Do… Set Specific Times You’ll Call In

Woman on a working vacation attends a Zoom video meeting

My dad was a pro at this. He made it clear he would dial in at 9 a.m. every morning and that it would be the only time staff would get him “live” during his vacation. They were always organized and ready with questions.

Just because you have a cell phone on vacation doesn’t mean you should be picking it up whenever someone from the office calls. It’s better to set up a scheduled time and stick to it. You can even send (or schedule) emails the night before to remind them you’ll be calling.

Don’t… Cancel Or Miss Meetings You Agreed To

Man cancels a meeting on his phone while on a working vacation

There’s nothing worse than promising you’ll make yourself available and then either canceling last minute or forgetting altogether. And yet, this sort of thing can happen on vacation. The good times are rolling and suddenly you’re caught in a moment when you’d rather be doing anything but work. Skipping the call or backing out moments before is rude and will leave a sour taste in your non-vacationing co-worker’s mouth.

Note: This is especially true if you are partying. Don’t take a call if you’ve been throwing them back. Seems obvious, but I can tell you, I’ve been on calls when a co-worker is “phoning it in” buzzed, and no matter how composed you think you are, it does not come across as professional.

Don’t… Criticize Co-workers’ Efforts From Afar

Woman on laptop works while on a working vacation

Expressing dissatisfaction with a co-worker’s performance from vacation is like rubbing salt in a wound. It’s one thing if you are in the office and can provide valuable feedback face-to-face. But telling a co-worker in a text message or two-sentence cryptic email from vacation that you weren’t happy with their work and intend to discuss it when you return is pure evil.

Wait to give constructive criticism until you are back in the office and can a) fully explain yourself, and b) allow the person the opportunity to ask questions and get clarity as to how to make it better.

And that’s a wrap on my professional dos and don’ts for taking a working vacation! Of course, there are always more tips and nuances, so I’d love to hear your thoughts and any additional advice you might have. Just a heads-up, though: I might not get around to responding right away. Why? Because I’m on a working vacation right now…

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Essential Networking Tips for Advancing Your Marketing Career

Essential Networking Tips for Advancing Your Marketing Career

In today’s highly competitive marketing landscape, the ability to forge meaningful professional connections can be the deciding factor that propels your career forward. When done thoughtfully, networking isn’t just about collecting business cards or LinkedIn contacts; it’s about building genuine relationships that lead to mutual growth, inspiration, and even career-changing opportunities.  Whether you are new […]

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Why You’re Getting Interviews But No Job Offers

Why You’re Getting Interviews But No Job Offers

If you’re getting interviews but no offers, you may be unknowingly saying something in the interview that’s keeping you from standing out as the “must-have” candidate. The whole purpose of an interview is to showcase that you’re the solution to the company’s challenges and needs. Yet candidates with extensive experience—often 15 years or more—may struggle to communicate this effectively.

The Common Misstep of Seasoned Professionals

One common issue for seasoned professionals is feeling the need to showcase their vast experience by presenting themselves as a “Jack or Jill of all trades.” They often say, “I can do this, I’ve done that,” listing a broad range of skills and achievements. While this might seem like a good strategy to demonstrate capability, it can backfire. When you’re running through a laundry list of skills, it can come across as overwhelming or even boastful—like a know-it-all, narcissist, or “bull in a china shop.”

The unfortunate result? The interviewer may perceive you as either difficult to work with or overly desperate. Think of it like trying to sell a high-end luxury car for the price of an economy model—interviewers may view it as too good to be true, which triggers skepticism instead of confidence.

Shifting Your Interview Strategy

Woman demonstrates her value in a job interview

After 15 years of experience, your interview approach should be markedly different from someone with just a few years in the industry. Instead of listing capabilities, aim to position yourself as a specialist with deep insight into the company’s needs. Here’s how:

  1. Ask Insightful Questions: Take time to ask detailed questions that demonstrate a genuine interest in the company’s specific challenges. This shows that you’re attentive, not just rattling off qualifications.
  2. Use Targeted Examples: Provide precise, relevant examples from your career to illustrate your expertise. Instead of stating you can handle everything, focus on specific achievements that directly relate to the role you’re interviewing for.
  3. Agitate the Pain Points: At Work It DAILY we teach a technique called “agitating the pain,” which involves showcasing your understanding of the issues the company is facing. Reflect the company’s pain points back to them and show that you have experience with similar challenges. For example, you might say, “Based on what you’ve shared, here’s how I would approach this challenge. At my previous company, we faced a similar issue, and I handled it by doing X, Y, and Z. Do you think a similar approach could work here?” This kind of collaborative approach feels less like a lecture and more like a tailored solution.
  4. Collaborate, Don’t Dictate: Instead of presenting your skills in a way that might feel one-sided, engage with the interviewer. Ask for feedback on your ideas and adapt them to their responses. Successful, savvy professionals do this naturally, and it’s a powerful way to build rapport.

Avoiding the “Oversell” Trap

Man shakes hands with the hiring manager after a job interview

With years of experience, you may be unknowingly overselling yourself. This can make you seem more like a “know-it-all” than a team player. By focusing on collaboration and targeted examples, you’ll present yourself as a valuable asset without overwhelming your interviewer.

If you’re over 40 or have significant career experience, you might find specific guidance helpful to adjust your interview approach. Work It DAILY offers a video tutorial inside our Interview Prep Course that’s tailored for seasoned professionals. Through our seven-day free trial, you can access this and other resources to refine your interview technique, ensuring that your experience shines in a way that lands just right with potential employers.

With these adjustments, you can transform your interview approach and become the must-have candidate who truly stands out.

Good luck! Go get ’em.

5 Improvements to Make to Your Employee Benefits and Bonuses System

5 Improvements to Make to Your Employee Benefits and Bonuses System

There may have been a heyday for passive acceptance of one’s job, but in today’s workplace culture, employees increasingly want to feel valued and be recognized for the hard work and dedication they bring to their roles every day. An employer who wisely acknowledges their contributions may very well see the motivation and engagement levels […]

The post <strong>5 Improvements to Make to Your Employee Benefits and Bonuses System</strong> appeared first on Jobacle.com.

6 Ways To Be Happy At Work

6 Ways To Be Happy At Work

Can someone really strive to be happy at work? I mean, after all, it’s called work. Is work supposed to be a source of happiness for us?

I happen to believe work can be a source of happiness and you can strive to be happy at work. Entirely possible. I’ve seen people who are happier at work than anywhere else. And they are perfectly healthy people.

Here are six tips to follow if you’re sick of being miserable and want to learn how to be happy at work.

1. Stop Complaining

Group of happy professionals at work

I think one of the biggest challenges of people being unable to be happy at work is really due to all of the complaining. Add to it all the gossip and rumors and it makes a very difficult environment to try to build some joy and happiness.

I suggest, tough as it may be, avoid complaining. In fact, stop complaining. When you distance yourself from negativity, you will quite naturally be happy at work. Or at least, feel a little happier. Don’t feel the need to complain as if it will resolve the issue. If you need to, discuss the challenge. Then, find a way to diffuse it. Otherwise, I suggest you just stop. Resist complaining.

2. Build Affinity

Man happy at work

What does this mean? Humans are social animals. We need others to connect. Learn to relate to others not just on the professional end but also on the personal side as well. Who knows? You may share some common interests with your colleagues and work suddenly does not feel boring.

There are common topics to talk about. Help others when you can. That is a way to build affinity with your co-workers. You will also sense energy within yourself because you are able to contribute beyond your regular work scope. Do not help by expecting others to return a favor though. You will be disappointed when others do not reciprocate. Help because you can and are willing.

3. Look For Connections

Happy woman smiles at her coworker

Sometimes you may not know it, but you may feel unhappy at work because you do not really know your role within the bigger organization.

Look for connections and try to understand your work. Where do you fit within your company? How do you contribute to the profits of the company? How do you add value to the organization? Look for these connections and keep learning new things. When you understand the bigger picture, you will understand your role and hence feel happier doing your job.

4. Figure Out What Work Means To You

Happy man smiles at his coworker

Work means different things to different people. What does work mean to you? Is it something that puts bread on the table and that’s all? Or do you look to work to fulfill other aspects of your life? Try to understand what your relationship with work is if you want to be happy at work.

5. Know Your Destination

Happy woman working on her laptop

Where do you want to be? How does this job contribute to your goals? Give yourself a goal. When you feel unhappy, you can always remind yourself of the bigger goal and how what you are doing now contributes to it. Seeing your goal and how your job contributes to it can help you feel happy at work.

6. Learn To Accept And Manage Disappointments

Two professionals happy at work

Learn to accept and manage disappointments with people and with work. Nothing is perfect and situations are always in a flux. So, don’t be too attached to the idea that you should be happy at work. Strive to be happy, but if that’s not possible, learn to accept that it is a fact of life.

You can find a way to be happy at work. I believe the secret is in understanding your role, your relationship with work, how you relate to people, and how willing you are to be nice and stop complaining. Above and beyond that, learn to accept that disappointments come and go.

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How To Avoid The Monday Blues

How To Avoid The Monday Blues

As the weekend winds down, many professionals start to tense up just thinking about what awaits them at work on Monday morning. For some, it’s a shadow that looms over their Sunday afternoons. This is known as the Sunday scaries and the Monday blues—and it’s not a good feeling.

However, it doesn’t have to be this way! Monday is just another day of the week. Mondays will always be a little extra busy because it starts a new workweek. But there are ways to make Monday a little less overwhelming (and depressing, if we’re being honest).

Here’s how to successfully avoid the Monday blues and start your week off right.

1. Prepare Properly For Monday

Businessman plans his schedule for Monday

On Friday, once the work of the week is complete, take some time to prepare for Monday. Perhaps there is some time to get a jump on next week’s work. Make a list of things that need to get done next week so you can go into the weekend with peace of mind and avoid any potential Monday morning surprises. Good time management throughout the week can help even out the daily workload.

For employers, you may want to consider easing up on the Monday morning meetings. Meetings are important to make sure everyone within the company is on the same page and working toward the same goals. However, there’s no rule saying that they have to be held Monday morning. The meeting could be held on Monday afternoon or any other day of the week instead.

In addition, good communication with the workforce throughout the week goes a long ways to making sure that any meetings that are held go by efficiently and don’t drag on.

2. Go Into Monday Well-Rested

Well-rested woman at work on a Monday morning

Weekends are a time to catch up on things and have a little fun. As a result, rest and relaxation can sometimes fall by the wayside.

In an ideal scenario, most of the weekend’s activities would be concluded by late Sunday afternoon, allowing you an opportunity to wind down, relax, and get a good night’s sleep. Going into any workday with low energy will have a negative impact, but more so on Monday because it could potentially set a negative tone for the rest of the week.

Go into Monday with as much energy as possible, set a productive tone for the week, and then maintain a healthy work-life balance until the weekend comes around again.

3. Change Your Perspective Of Monday

Happy man at work on a Monday

Many professionals have been programmed to dread Mondays. But what if that’s more mental than reality? Ask yourself, “Is my Monday any worse than any other day?” In most cases, it probably isn’t. And even if it is, how you decide to approach the day could determine how the rest of the day goes.

Many unpleasant things in life can be improved with a positive attitude. Look at Monday as a brand new start, a clean slate. You’re about to meet a new workweek and Monday is a first impression.

It also helps to give yourself something to look forward to each Monday. It could be going out to lunch, happy hour after work with co-workers and friends, or maybe a special family dinner out each Monday. It could even be something as simple as a workout at the gym or a movie or game night.

Whatever it is, having something fun to look forward to each Monday makes the day seem more manageable and adds positivity to it.

Continuing to approach Monday with dread and negativity will only make things worse, so turn it into a positive experience. Follow the easy tips above to avoid the Monday blues and crush the upcoming workweek!

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