Alexandra Levits Water Cooler Wisdom Is Your Culture Corrupt

Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom Is Your Culture Corrupt Most people believe that governments are corrupt. In fact, fixing corruption in the U.S. government ranked number-two in a list of the most critical issues that should be addressed in the recent presidential election. Large corporations are no strangers to corruption either. In a 2008 global survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers and The Economic Intelligence Unit, an increasing number of large companies said they recognized their vulnerability to corruption and the benefits of effective anti-corruption programs and controls. Sixty-three percent indicated that they had experienced some form of actual or attempted corruption, and 45 percent have not entered a specific market or pursued a particular opportunity because of corruption risks. However, while 80 percent said they have some form of an anti-corruption program in place, only 22 percent were confident of the program’s effectiveness. Corruption on a smaller scale is much more likely to get swept under the rug. We are far more likely to tolerate corruption in our small businesses because it doesn’t seem to have any long-term ill effects. But “seem” would be the operative word here. Regardless of the size of your business, corruptionâ€"defined as the misuse of entrusted power for private gain via bribery, conflicts of interest, extortion, embezzlement and fraudâ€"will damage your organization’s reputation and may even have severe operational, financial, legal and regulatory consequences. Its in your best interest to expose and root out corrupt activities before they sabotage your culture. For recommended action steps, head over to the full post at the AMEX Open Forum.

Learn to Avoid Long Term Unemployment - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Learn to Avoid Long Term Unemployment - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career If you’re out of work for a long time, it’s not necessarily your fault, says Ben Casselman of FiveThirtyEight, a polling aggregator. Casselman says his firm’s work shows that by far, the single biggest predictor of whether people will be out of work for a year or more is the state of the economy at the time they lose their jobs. In some cases, long-term unemployment can lead to mental health deterioration. Fully 16% of the general population is affected by mental health, and for those in long-term unemployment, the figure is a whopping 34%. But those are just statistics; the long-term unemployed can write volumes about more than just the numbers: they can expound on their denial, anger, frustration, blame of others, fear, confusion, and many more such negative feelings. Besides the obvious financial reasons basic to survival, people want to go back to work because working helps put order into routine activities, it elevates self-esteem, and it contributes to their view of their status vis-à-vis family, friends, society, and all social contacts. It also provides a time structure and a sense of collective purpose. The solution starts with self-evaluation This may sound obvious, but from my experience as a practicing career coach, I can attest to many situations when people are so deeply in shock that they cannot even come to terms with their unemployment at any level of logic, but they simply wallow in self-pity and cover themselves with layers of negative emotions. To assist clients with what should be their very first step after ending a job, I developed a tool called Self-Assessment for Reentering the Job Market. The tool can be viewed and downloaded by way of my LinkedIn profile at http://www.linkedin.com/in/alexfreundCareerCoach. Why such long-term transition? When people unexpectedly lose their jobs, in most cases initially they are in shock. It takes a while to regain mental and emotional equilibrium. After that, people fall into one of the three categories. Those who maintain an open mind and are willing to see a wide array of future employment possibilities. They see that they can potentially become independent entrepreneurs, open a business, or do something they always wanted to do but never had a chance to. However, this is admittedly a risky possibility, often requiring significant start-up expenses, and so most people are reluctant to take the plunge, preferring to stay unemployed. Those who say that in the past, they were successful on the job and thus their future will continue being successful, provided an opportunity arises. They are not willing to consider much of a deviation from their past positions. In a bad economy, though, such a waiting game can take a long time to play out, especially when people forget that in the meantime, they have aged and a new generation is replacing them. Last are those who wish to continue in their past profession but are open to making changes by learning new skills and adjusting to the newer requirements of today’s marketplace. For example, a worker whose career has been in information technology (IT) specializing in mainframes now shifts into IT security, an area much in demand nowadays. These are the people who will most likely be able to shorten their periods in transition.

Tips for Choosing the Best Criminal Defense Lawyer for Your Case -

Tips for Choosing the Best Criminal Defense Lawyer for Your Case - What is worse than being charged with a crime you did not commit? That moment when you know, you are innocent, but you do not know how to prove it to the judge. It is super frustrating, but with the help of a knowledgeable criminal attorney, things are bound to get easier. You need a law expert to represent you and get you out of that messy situation. This will not only save your time and money but also, increases the odds of you winning the case. However, getting the right attorneys like Marsh Blom criminal lawyer Parramatta is the real challenge. With lots of attorneys out there claiming to offer these services, you need to be super cautious to protect yourself from frauds. How do you do that? Here are some guiding tips to help you through the search for the right criminal defense lawyer. The experience The first and most aspect to put into consideration is the experience. For how long has the lawyer been in the market and offering similar services? If they have been doing so for long, it means that they have acquired the necessary knowledge and skills to help you through the case and see you win. Experience alone is not enough if the attorney does not specialize in your exact area of interest. You want someone that has been in the courtroom defending individuals with similar charges as yours. Confidence and communication Look for a confident attorney who can help you build the strongest case and get you out of the issue. In fact, confidence in communication is the most crucial trait in any attorney. It shows that s/he understands what is going on in the courtroom, s/he understands the law and is even sure of the answers s/he has to give in every question. Commitment How much is the lawyer committed to seeing your case succeed? By dedication, it means that the lawyer should be giving your case as much attention as possible. The right criminal lawyer will not take many cases at once and give you shared time and attention. That will only increase your chances of losing in the case. You can determine how much the attorney is committed to your case from the word go. Does he attend meetings as agreed? Does s/he keep time and how time is s/he willing to offer you during the session. It is a matter of seeing you get the justice you deserve, and the lawyer should, therefore, be ready to do everything in his/her power to see that happen. The fee The service rates matter too. You are already dealing with a lot of stress as it is, and the last thing you want is more financial stress. Look for an attorney with reasonable rates and to do so, compare the prices offered by different providers and choose the one that fits your budget. However, do not let low rates fool you. It could be a sign of poor services, and it is, therefore, best that you let other factors guide you before checking the rates. With these tips, you will undoubtedly find the right criminal attorney to take you through your case, and you are assured of getting the services you are looking for.

From Awkward Moments Into Opportunity - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

From Awkward Moments Into Opportunity - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Have you ever been asked to recommend someone whose business practices you do not admire? Or with the advent of social media, have you been asked to “Like” a person or a business with which you have no familiarity? In the hot seat The situation of being asked to do this type of favor, in reality, puts you in the hot seat. It’s not pleasant and how you handle these moments is an indication of your true brand. In particular, if you become embarrassed and too shy to as diplomatically as possible say “no” to “Jane” whose delivery may not be in alignment with yours, you may dissuade others from working with you. In all likelihood, many share your impression. Therefore recommending Jane will hurt you. In the case of social media, when someone whom you do not know asks you to “like” their page or business, that’s just as awkward or even more so. Given the enormity of the widespread social networks, ramifications may occur and with which you do not wish to get caught in the middle. It’s a wonderful idea to support one another as fully as you possibly may. The catch is you must only do so if the other service or party meets your guidelines. Otherwise, you will be the one to suffer the consequences. So how can we turn these awkward moments into opportunity? I don’t have the perfect answers but here are some guidelines: When you are asked in-person for a recommendation but you feel uncomfortable providing it, use the sales technique of returning the question with a question. Ask the other party what they had in mind for a recommendation relaying you give these serious consideration and you want to be certain it will benefit both of you. It quickly becomes evident it’s either an opportunistic request or an opportunity for both of you. This is where the conversation usually stops. From awkward to advances In the matter of social media “likes” â€" begin a discussion on your profile page by asking your friends how they would handle the situation. This is where awkward moments advance into opportunity. Your question turned to discussion generates more activity in your community. Everyone can learn from the consensus of what is expected and what is acceptable. You will also gain a much better idea of how to proceed and those who participated feel good too. Another avenue to pursue when someone whom you do not know requests a “like”, take the time to message them back and ask to get to know one another a little bit better before you take that step. You just might make an excellent new friend and one who is willing to promote you too. In sales this is called a win-win, and for marketing purposes it becomes strengthening your brand The fact that you are willing to pose the question of how to handle these situations allowing others to see you don’t know everything but are ready to learn, demonstrates that you are to be trusted. Trust is one of the most important elements in anyone’s brand. Develop this well and you will be headed for an applauded brand and a very Smooth Sale! Author: Elinor Stutz, CEO of Smooth Sale, LLC authored the International Best-Selling book, “Nice Girls DO Get the Sale: Relationship Building That Gets Results” and “HIRED! How to Use Sales Techniques to Sell Yourself On Interviews”. She provides team sales training, private coaching and Business Retreats (http://www.smoothsale.net/products/biz-retreat/) to grow you business. She is available upon request for consultation.

12 Scents Proven to Increase Your Productivity CareerMetis.com

12 Scents Proven to Increase Your Productivity â€" CareerMetis.com Did you know that certain scents you inhale can dramatically improve your productivity?Aromatherapy isn’t one of the most well-known productivity hacks, but it definitely works.Instead of trying out different prescribed pills to boost your efficiency, why not keep it simple and rely on scents like lemon, citrus and lavender? You can create your own mist or simply use your favorite fragrance to enhance your energy.evalThe best scents can hack your work day, sustain your attention and help you recharge. It works because smell travels to your olfactory bulb when you inhale it. It passes through your hippocampus and amygdala regions â€" they’re responsible for your memory and where you process emotions respectively. There are plenty of studies that review how scents improve memory, concentration and cognitive function.To illustrate, FragranceXanalyzed 15 proven scents to help you work.Lavender is one of the most powerful aromatherapies to boost your performance in the workplace. To b e more specific, researchers at Yamanashi University found that male students who inhaled lavender during recess were able to concentrate better later in the day. It not only sharpens your focus, but it even helps to recharge your brain. This helps you return to work energized, so you can get more stuff done.Ginger is another excellent example. If you need to power through a deadline for a project, you can fight your fatigue using this aroma. Additionally, a study in the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicinerevealed that ginger also eases pain. The benefits of this scent are a great combination to use during a workday. You’ll revive your energy as you inhale the sharp, aromatic smell of ginger.In another studyin Japan, researchers found that workers made 54% fewer typing errors when smelling lemon. You can use the tangy scent of lemon to tackle any long proposals you need to finish.These are great examples of the 15 proven scents to help you work; each comes with unique be nefits. You’ll improve your productivity thanks to the boost in brain function from these aromas. Remember, you don’t need a prescription to get these awesome benefits because they’re all natural!Infographic Source : FragranceX.com

Free books on leadership - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Free books on leadership - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Questia.com are putting a lot of free books and articles on the net, and this week the focus is on leadership. Here are their prime picks in that category. 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

Rules About Resume Writing Job Less Than Six Months Of Experience

Rules About Resume Writing Job Less Than Six Months Of ExperienceThis is a rule about resume writing job less than six months of experience. Most people think that the job application should have the resume and its information updated as soon as the resume writer makes a professional level in writing resumes.It is not necessary for the job less than six months of experience to be updated in just six months. If you work as a freelancer and do not have any authority on making updates on your resume, it is best for you to seek help from a professional resume writer.Many freelancers and jobs with low pay also need the help of a good resume writer for the same reason. But to make the job less than six months of experience, you need to search for some reviews, which are truthful.Some resume writers may offer their services to the job seekers with a lower fee. But this is not necessary as a person can still get the same quality service by charging less. The job less than six months of exper ience need not be updated with details if it is still a new job.If you are sure that you have the skill to write a resume for the job less than six months of experience, then it is recommended that you seek a professional resume writer for it. In this case, you need to find a writer who can be trusted as they are most likely dealing with lots of jobs.The rule about resume writing job less than six months of experience is not that easy to follow. There are some good writers who will have more ideas on writing resume. Some may be able to help you write the resume in the shortest time.There are many rules about resume writing which need to be followed to make sure that the job less than six months of experienceis updated. The rules include keeping all the details of the candidate in one section and starting with the most important part of the resume. After starting with the more important parts, it is suggested that the resume should be read in an orderly way.Many of the professionals who are knowledgeable about creating free sample resumes, recommend that you keep the resume in the front. Most people think that the candidate should be introduced at the top and it would not be ideal to introduce the candidate in the middle.