LEADERSHIP Spring 2018
Seven Ways to Beat Burnout Blues pp. 6-7 How to Set and Achieve Professional Goals pp. 8-9
Take Charge of Your Time No More Monday Morning Blues Secrets to Finding Happiness at Work
Leadership Spring 2018
MINES & Associates 10367 West Centennial Road Littleton, Colorado 80127 800.873.7138 www.MINESandAssociates.com
A word from your Account Management Team... Welcome to the Spring 2018 issue of Leadership!
Spring time is a time for growth and goal setting both on a personal and professional level. To help with these items we’ve collected some great resources on time management, goal setting, and ways to find happiness and stay positive no matter what you have going on. We hope these resources help make this spring a great and productive season, and as always, MINES is here to support you along the way!
In this issue we start off with some time management tips with Take Charge of Your Time on page 4 and how to start every week off on a positive note with No More Monday Morning Blues on page 5. Next check out Seven Ways to Beat Burnout Blues on page 6 and Secrets to Finding Happiness at Work on page 7 for ways to help keep job satisfaction high and burnout to a minimum. Finally on page 11, maximxe your potential with How to Set and Acheive Professional Goals. If you find these tips work for you, please share with your employees to help them make the most of every day.
Workplace issues have you or your employees down? Remember that with MINES you have access to unlimited supervisor consultations and conflict management services. We are here to help. Please call us at 1-800-873-7138 anytime. To your health!
– The MINES Team
. . . . . . . . Credits . . . . . . .
The Staywell Company, LLC © 2017 Take Charge of Your Time pg. 4 Seven Ways to Beat Burnout Blues pp. 6-7 Secrets to Finding Happiness at Work pp. 8-9 How to Set and Achieve Professional Goals pp. 10-11 Life Advantages - Author Delvina Miremadi © 2017 No More Monday Morning Blues pg. 5
Total
Wellbeing
2018
TotalWellbeing is your way to connect the dots between the 8 core dimensions of wellness: Physical, Occupational, Intellectual,
Environmental, Financial, Social, Spiritual, and Emotional Wellness. Understanding these dimensions is the first step toward a sense of complete wellbeing. In 2018 we take ideas around wellbeing and tie them into the bigger picture, your community, and the rest of the world. It is important to understand the influence that the world has on our wellbeing and the influence we may have on others. All year we will be looking at ways to strengthen your connection with your community by providing information, insight, and resources to help on a personal level along with ways to give back to the people around you so we can all thrive together!
Enhancing Awareness Inspire Wellbeing
The 8 dimensions of wellbeing don’t just apply to one person, they apply to everyone we know and everything we do. Social influence is a huge factor that contributes to each of our levels of wellness, but it all starts with the individual. With this in mind, our challenge to you in 2018 is to see how you can apply wellness goals and concepts to the activities you do everyday. Any time you learn something new, teach someone else and help them use it to enhance their own life!
Total Wellbeing World View
In 2018 we aim to build on the concept of wellbeing awareness. We will be providing resources, stories, and tools to help you see the bigger wellness picture from your community to the rest of the world. Check out our articles in this magazine and head to minesandassociates.com/newsletters to check out our monthly newsletter with even more great wellness information.
Wellness Webinars
Support from the experts Join MINES for any of our free monthly webinars. 2018 will cover great new topics ranging from improving your credit, having a stress free summer, turning negatives to positives, and much more! Visit our website to learn more, or register for upcoming events at www.minesandassociates.com/webinar.
Is there a topic you’d like to see us explore? We’d love to hear from you.
Shoot us an e-mail at communications@minesandassociates.com and let us know what you’d like to see.
www.MINESandAssociates.com | 800.873.7138
Take Charge of Your Time Time is a precious commodity that’s available to all of us in equal parts to use as we choose.
“Time is your personal possession. Nobody can manage it or fix it for you,” says Glenn Van Ekeren, author of “12 Simple Secrets of Happiness at Work.” “One of the best ways to use your time wisely is to ask yourself, ‘Is this the best way for me to be spending my time right now?’ And, if it isn’t, change your activity to one that will bring value to your company.” Here are Mr. Van Ekeren’s other suggestions to help you get a hold on wasted time:
• Peak hours: Schedule work according to your peak productivity time. Dedicate those hours when you’re most productive to doing things that give the highest return and produce the greatest value.
• Determine your priorities: “Overambitious to-do lists can be unrealistic and anti-productive,” says Mr. Van Ekeren. “Make choices. Sort out your ‘have-to’s’ from your ‘choose-to’s.’ You’ll be amazed how many times you chose to do rather than have to do. Direct your energies toward activities that are the most important to you.” • Go for results: Be result-oriented rather than activity-oriented. Activity doesn’t equal accomplishment. “Measure your effectiveness by what you achieve, not by how busy you are,” says Mr. Van Ekeren. • Get organized: Have a place for everything and have everything in its place, then maintain that sense of order.
• Learn to say no: Busy people must simply learn to refuse some demands on their time. “It’s natural not to want to disappoint people, but sometimes we’re unrealistic about our time limits,” says Mr. Van Ekeren. “It’s easy to let our ego get in the way of saying no. But you’ll never feel in control if you’re biting off more than you can chew.” • Work on your attitude: Your attitude about how busy you are, the amount of time you have, or the demands on your life can sabotage any effort to make the most of the time you have. Be flexible. Not everything will go as expected. Mr. Van Ekeren advises seeking new opportunities when your game plan runs into roadblocks.
• Do it right the first time: If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?
• Place deadlines on yourself: Don’t allow minor or major projects to drag on indefinitely. Challenge yourself with deadlines and beat them. “Try not to leave projects hanging at the end of the day,” says Mr. Van Ekeren. “Bring closure to as much as you can.”
• Prepare for unexpected downtime: Spare minutes created by waiting in airports, restaurants, or traffic (taxis or pubic transit, not while driving of course) can be the perfect time to complete small projects.
• Get up earlier: By rising 30 minutes earlier each day, you add 3-1/2 hours of productivity to your week. “Multiply that by 52 weeks, and you’ll have an additional 180 hours to accomplish your priorities,” says Mr. Van Ekeren. “I’ve used these extra hours to write books and get energized by reading inspirational reading material.” M
4
Leadership Spring 2018
No More Monday Morning Blues Few people actually look forward to Mondays, but the first day of the week doesn’t have to be the worst day of the week. If you find yourself feeling anxious or overwhelmed Sunday night by the anticipation of work and work-related stress, follow the tips below so you can learn to look forward to a new workweek instead of dreading its arrival.
Prioritize with a Daily or Weekly Plan
Set tasks for the week ahead; this will make your workload more manageable and give you some goals to pursue. You can write down what needs to be done today and tomorrow, or you can make a weekly list of tasks in advance. You’ll feel a sense of accomplishment once you cross off some of those tasks. Consider making a weekly plan on Friday, so that Sunday night you can rest peacefully knowing that Monday morning you already have a plan to tackle your work.
Schedule Tasks
Are you more energetic and productive in the mornings or the afternoons? Plan your work accordingly. Do routine tasks when you are low on energy, and when you are more alert, go after the more important and challenging tasks.
“...it is important to leave some time unstructured to benefit your mental and physical health. Take a break to stretch or grab a glass of water when you need it, take some time for professional reading, or look at an inspirational quote.”
Use Your Time Wisely Avoid time wasters, like unnecessary phone calls or e-mails, gossiping, or taking extra breaks. You’ll accomplish more if you set aside chunks of time dedicated to a specific task or goal, and then reward yourself when you meet them. However, it is important to leave some time unstructured to benefit your mental and physical health. Take a break to stretch or grab a glass of water when you need it, take some time for professional reading, or look at an inspirational quote.
See If Stress Is Affecting Your Work
If you’ve tried these tips and Monday mornings still get you down, take a look at outside factors. Do you have a lot of stress at home or feel like you are being pulled in all directions? Try to examine what is happening that may lower your energy and happiness at work. A counselor, support hotline, or friend can help you find out what is really wrong.
To fully beat Monday morning gloom, try to keep a healthy lifestyle both at the office and at home: eat nutritiously, exercise, and get enough sleep. M
Spring 2018 Leadership
5
Seven Ways to Beat Burnout Blues Have you ever wondered why some people leave jobs after two or three years and others stay for 15 or 20? Burnout may not be the only reason people leave their jobs, but it often is a factor. You may be experiencing burnout if you feel bored, fatigued, apathetic, impatient, and constantly irritated with your coworkers.
Don’t panic, there’s hope. Some of the secrets to long-term job happiness are revealed below in the words of people who have avoided burnout.
Change positions within your company
“I avoided burnout by changing positions every two to four years. During my 27-year career, I worked in sales, market research, technical management, operations, and product management. The changes kept me interested and excited about my work,” says Jan Powell, from Dallas, Texas, who worked for 27 years at Xerox.
“To avoid burnout... identify like-minded people... seek out shortterm projects, working with different teams each time... continue to learn new things.”
Find like-minded people “To avoid burnout, the most useful tool I have found is to identify like-minded people with whom I can share humor, have fun, and vent frustrations when needed. These must be people who share a similar sense of humor as yourself and people you trust implicitly,” says Bobbe White, from Quincy, Illinois, who has worked as a business development officer at a community bank for 21 years.
Seek out short-term projects
“I have avoided burnout because, in addition to my normal routine job, I seek out short-term projects, working with different teams each time,” says Jaswant Kaur, a nine-year employee of the Samling Group of Companies.
“These projects could be on cost-cutting efforts, improving quality efforts, charitable causes, or other social functions for the company,” says the Samling employee, who lives in Kuching, Malaysia.
6
Leadership Spring 2018
Get more education “I was previously with a technology company for more than 13 years and became burned out since I wasn’t able to go anywhere within the company,” says Teresa Johnson, from Southlake, Texas. “I went back to school and received a B.B.A. in management and an M.S. in human resources and training. “The company paid for my schooling and knew when I started the master’s program that I’d leave after graduation if no opportunities arose. That happened, and I left within 30 days after graduating. They felt it was worth it to keep me working at the company for the time I was in school,” she says.
Keep on learning
“I worked at Sears for nearly 10 years, many years ago. The number one thing I’ve learned through that many years of employment is that it’s important to continue to learn new things,” says Melinda L. Surbough, from Dallas, Texas, who is now the managing editor of Today’s Dallas Woman magazine.
“Having pride and confidence in my job and doing work that I enjoy are very important... These, combined with appreciation and caring from management...”
Have pride in your job “I work in a busy medical office. Having pride and confidence in my job and doing work that I enjoy are very important to me,” says Lucretia Rolland, a receptionist at The Dermatology Center in Irving, Texas. “These, combined with appreciation and caring from management, have kept me in my job for more than 17 years.”
Don’t wait
If you start to experience burnout, don’t wait until it affects your work and don’t start looking for a new job. Instead, try making positive changes in your present job. Talk to your supervisor and discuss changes that could reenergize you. M
Spring 2018 Leadership 7
Secrets for Finding Happiness at Work
The type of work you do, your title, or your salary has very little to do with whether you are happy at work. Self-esteem and believing you deserve to be happy do.
“Self-esteem is the first key to finding happiness on the job,” says Denis Waitley, Ph.D., speaker and coauthor of several books on personal and career success, including The Joy of Working. “Self-esteem is a deep-down feeling in your soul of your own self-worth. Individuals who enjoy their work develop strong beliefs of self-worth and self-confidence regarding everything they do.”
Setting and achieving goals that are important to you are a necessary part of developing self-worth. “I advise people to chase their passions, not their pensions,” Dr. Waitley says. “People who are working for their salaries alone become slaves to their work. People who are involved in what they’re doing, who put their signature on everything they do, find satisfaction and happiness on the job.”
“Turn dilemmas into opportunities. To do so, examine your most pressing problems on the job. Then, to gain a better perspective, come up with solutions as if you were advising one of your best friends.”
Wake up happy “Optimism is a learned attitude,” Dr. Waitley says. “If you start thinking positively early in the day, you’re more likely to maintain a positive stance as your day progresses.” To have a happier morning: Wake up to music instead of an alarm. Begin your day by saying something positive to your spouse, your children, or the first person you see.
Positive self-talk
“The role of positive self-dialogue in maintaining a positive attitude has been well-documented,” Dr. Waitley says. “And it’s been found to be most effective if you put it in the present tense.”
8
Leadership Spring 2018
Dr. Waitley begins his day with these affirmations: “This will be a good day.” “I’m going to take steps today that will move me closer to my goals.” Here are other ideas from Dr. Waitley:
• Always greet your co-workers and your boss with a smile. “As simple as it sounds, a smile establishes your own selfworth and shares it with others,” Dr. Waitley says.
• Turn dilemmas into opportunities. To do so, examine your most pressing problems on the job. Then, to gain a better perspective, come up with solutions as if you were advising one of your best friends.
• Stay away from pity parties or gripe sessions. Joining in may feel like worker solidarity, but it’s actually climbing aboard a sinking ship. Instead, find happy and successful role models to pattern yourself after. Surround yourself with people who enjoy their work. • View change as normal. Constantly monitor and evaluate your capacity to be flexible, open to new ideas and adaptable to change.
• Be persistent in visualizing your ultimate goals and dreams of achievement. Constantly practice positive self-talk and keep a positive attitude when times are tough and your perseverance needs bolstering. • Don’t let trifles bother you. “If the effort it takes to change something far exceeds its worth, forget it and learn to live with it,” Dr. Waitley says. “Keep your mind free to concentrate on larger issues and problems.”
• Don’t make too much of your mistakes. They are part of being human. Concentrate on the lessons to be learned from even the most trying confrontations. • Set your own standards rather than comparing yourself to others. Successful people run their own races.
• Appreciate each moment of your working day. If the work gets boring, use your powers of visualization to see yourself succeeding in your goals.
• Discover a sense of purpose. Knowing why you want what you want makes the difference between success and failure, happiness and unhappiness, joy and frustration. • Expect the best from others; that includes your boss, co-workers and subordinates. “Be a leader in spreading encouragement and praise,” Dr. Waitley says. “You’ll be surprised how people will live up to what you expect when you share your positive expectations.” M Spring 2018 Leadership 9
How to Set and Achieve Professional Goals
If you want to accomplish something instead of drifting aimlessly, you have to set goals. Nowhere is this more relevant than in today’s workplace.
“Setting professional goals is a game plan for yourself and your company,” says Frank Arnold, D.P.A., associate professor of public administration and management at Saint Leo University in Saint Leo, Fla. “Knowing precisely where you’re going and what you want to achieve puts you in the driver’s seat. It helps you plan for your training and educational needs.”
Moreover, goal setting is important in a team-oriented workplace. “You help your work group by ensuring your skills are current,” says Paula deLong, a licensed psychologist and a counselor in the employee assistance program at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.
Goal setting is one of life’s most difficult responsibilities-not because goals are so hard to establish, but because you may lack the motivation or courage to ask yourself what you want. “If you’re like most people, you can’t picture yourself outside of the safety and familiarity of your current comfort zone,” Dr. Arnold says. Yet setting goals and achieving them can boost your effectiveness, increase your satisfaction in your accomplishments, and deepen your self-confidence.
Keys to success
Keep the following guidelines in mind when setting professional goals:
First, ask yourself what will satisfy you and make you happy. Self-reflection requires you to face your dreams, fears, limitations, and obligations to others. Identify which skills you’re proficient in and consider whether they can be used elsewhere in the organization.
“Goal setting is one of life’s most difficult responsibilitiesnot because goals are so hard to establish, but because you may lack the motivation or courage to ask yourself what you want.”
10
Leadership Spring 2018
Research what’s involved in meeting your goals. Get a clear understanding of the skills, information, or assistance you’ll need to attain them.
Identify the incremental steps and deadlines involved in attaining your goals. If you want to attend graduate school for additional credentials, for instance, you must study for the entrance exam, take the exam, then apply for admission to the school.
Set specific goals. Setting goals that are vague or too large can result in frustration and discouragement and cause you to give up. “To become an expert in computers is a broad goal that could be overwhelming. Narrow your goal to make it more manageable,” Dr. Arnold says. “Completing one course in Microsoft Word at the local community college is more reasonable.” Make your goals measurable. “This allows you to see progress and keeps you motivated,” Ms. deLong says. “’Increase my sales quota by 10 percent this year’ is an example of a measurable goal.” Set a time limit for achieving your goals, otherwise, you’ll never see closure, only a long, pointless grind.
Stay motivated
To stay motivated, acknowledge your progress and reward yourself along the way. Congratulate yourself for completing your first semester toward an advanced degree. Praise yourself for being promoted.
It’s also important to remain flexible and positive. Your goals will change as you refine your career plan or as roadblocks appear that cause temporary detours, Dr. Arnold says, “goal setting is a dynamic, ongoing process that should always be part of your professional life.” M
“To stay motivated, acknowledge your progress and reward yourself along the way. Congratulate yourself for completing your first semester toward an advanced degree. Praise yourself for being promoted.”
Spring 2018 Leadership 11
A note to Supervisors... From time to time, situations arise when a supervisor is not sure how to respond to a particular behavior. The Employee Assistance Program is available on a 24/7 basis for consultation on issues such as: referring an employee to the EAP, how best to respond to and manage difficult behavior in the workplace, and whether training or some other form of group intervention (such as an organizational intervention or a conflict resolution) may be helpful for a particular situation. The EAP can serve as an ally to anyone who is working with a troubled employee.
• 24/7 supervisor consultation regarding problems in the workplace
• Assessment of behavioral risk on the job • Return-to-Duty conferences
• Advisory services in writing, revising, and implementing policies
• Supervisor and Manager training
• Unlimited formal Work Performance Referrals
• Coaching for management and leadership skills
• Conflict resolution for supervisor-employee problems
MINES believes that employees are an organization’s most valuable resource. Your EAP is always available to provide you and your employees with support.
The MINES Team
Questions? Reach us at 800.873.7138 | www.MINESandAssociates.com