How to Build and Manage Strong Client Relationships - The Muse

How to Build and Manage Strong Client Relationships - The MuseHow to Build and Manage Strong Client RelationshipsIf youve ever been in a client-facing position- and I bet if youre reading this you have- its pretty easy to differentiate between a good client relationship and a not-so-good one. Good client relationships make you feel like a true partner to your client. They trust and listen to you, and you feel good about the work you do for them. As a result, your relationship builds and expands into bigger and better things, either through longevity, additional projects or business, or the biggest compliment- referrals to other clients.But building a strong relationship goes beyond delivering on what your contract says, although thats of course crucial. Here are some tips to help you wow your clients every day and further boost your reputation as a strong partner. 1. Really Get to Know How They WorkIn sports, theres a term for this KYP, meaning know your personnel. Coaches spend hour s dissecting their upcoming opponents plays, patterns, strengths, and weaknesses to design an effective game plan. The saatkorn goes for client relationships Know what youre walking into so you can present yourself and your work effectively. When you first make contact with a client, do your research on the company, team, past projects (if applicable), and the individual client contacts. This way, you go into your initial conversations with confidence, enthusiasm, and easy material to use to create a great first impression. For example, it never hurts to reference coverage of their new product in The Wall Street Journal, mention how fun their latest company retreat looked on Instagram, or discuss your mutual LinkedIn connections.Part of getting to know your client is also about learning to speak their language. That may mean picking up industry-specific jargon if necessary, or reading the room to understand the appropriate tone and level of professionalism. It also means feeling out (or just straight up asking) what the best form of communication is. Do they prefer chatting by email, by phone, or in person? Do they tend to write longer messages or keep things short and sweet?A great way to get to know your client from the start is to have a kick-off meeting in person. Going on-site gives you the opportunity to get a feel for the office culture and how their team communicates. If you cant go in person, suggest holding a video conference to get face time. Because while you can do all the research possible on someone, getting to know them organically is how youll truly learn to work with them effectively- and avoid giving off stalker-like vibes.2. Check in FrequentlySet regular check-ins (maybe every few days, once a week, or once every couple weeks) with your client during a project, and stay organized and respect one anothers time by creating agendas. Check-in meetings should include project updates (even if the update is business as usual), and also time to wa lk through any pain points or questions that need to be addressed.When youre in the neighborhood, it also never hurts to ask to stop by for a quick hello, a tour of the office, or a chance grab lunch (taking into consideration their busy schedule). Particularly if you work with clients in different states or parts of the country and youre traveling for business, make the time to landsee as many clients in the area as possible. This can be especially helpful after finishing a project as a way to acknowledge and even celebrate work well done, and can create a more casual space to ask for and engage in feedback (more on that below). 3. Ask for FeedbackGetting feedback isnt just for wrapping up finished projects. You should always be consistently and deliberately asking your client how you can improve the way you work together. When you finish onboarding them, for example, give them a quick call to ask for feedback on how it went, what they liked about the process, and if there welches anything that was challenging or could have been done differently. Not only do you show interest in their opinion and happiness, but you also learn valuable information for future clients you may onboard.Its also important to state the obvious- tell your client upfront you are open to, and encourage, any and all feedback they have. Creating an open relationship where feedback is respected and shared freely sets a foundation for successful long-term partnerships.Dont be afraid to ask for feedback from people outside your direct contacts either by asking questions like, How did the rest of the team react to X? or What was the general consensus in your department about Y?And its never too late to follow up- in fact, in some cases you may want to check in a while after the fact to see how the results panned out. For example, after youve finished a print job, check in a month later to see how the distribution went and how the materials were received, and if they noticed anything that the y hadnt thought of at the time of completion.The most important part? Make sure to actually take their feedback seriously and implement any changes that need to be made. If you cant necessarily fix or alter something, be honest and upfront about your limitations and offer instead to pass it along to other people who may be able to help.4. Set Expectations and DeliverIt probably doesnt need to be said, but Im going to anyway Do what you say youre going to do, and deliver on what you promise a client. And dont just meet expectations- exceed them with incredible communication, energy, and results. Simple as that. You can follow through by setting realistic expectations with your client from the start, from what youre going to actually deliver to how youre going to deliver it to how youre going to keep in contact throughout the relationship. This means understanding your own capabilities and timelines, and being honest with yourself if you have any limitations. Then, be explicit with yo ur client about what that all looks like from the start- both in person or on the phone as well as in writing via email or a formal document. Lets also not forget a key ingredient to delivering and exceeding expectations- your attitude Never underestimate the power of a calm, cool, collected, and positive attitude to instill confidence in your client. And a quick tip I carry with me from a summer job working at a luxury hotel You can hear a smile over the phone.5. Create AccountabilityGreat, were all on the same page about delivering. But what about your client? What are they responsible for? Partnership is a two-way street, and the best partners hold each other accountable. So its perfectly acceptable (and frankly crucial) to set clear expectations for your client. What deadlines do they need to meet? How should they communicate with you, and when are they allowed to contact you- are non-working hours off-limits? What specific tasks do they own in each process?These should be set ( and put into writing) from the very beginning of your relationship, and reaffirmed in each new stage you enter together.An easy way to do this is to set timelines and strategies you both agree feel manageable and realistic for your respective workloads. Just as you need to be held accountable, when your client doesnt hold up their end of the bargain, dont be afraid to advocate for yourself, your team, and your work. This of course can be done in a constructive and respectful way. For example, if your client isnt getting back to you with necessary feedback on a project, you can send the following emailHi Name,Im following up on the feedback were waiting for to move forward to phase two of the design project.When we belastung spoke, we agreed you would provide feedback within a week of receiving design drafts. Does this timeline still work for you? If we need to adjust or extend the deadline let me know since well also need to readjust our overall project timeline, as were not comfort able moving forward until we get the okay from you. Let me know if you would like to jump on a call and we can strategize any changes we need to make.Thanks,Your NameConfronting a client to hold them accountable can be incredibly intimidating. But doing so actually makes them respect you more. When you take control of the relationship, you show organization, initiative, and confidence- all qualities of a great service specialist. And it leaves little room for mistakes, unexpected emotions, or the blame game should something fall through the cracks.6. Embrace Your Role as the ExpertTrust is another key ingredient to a strong client relationship- and its easily earned when you show yourself to be exceptionally qualified and self-assured in your craft. Becoming the expert in the eyes of your client is really about more than just delivering on what you promised. Its done through showing you have broad industry knowledge that informs how you do your work. For example, if youre a recruite r facilitating the hiring of an executive assistant for a startup, you might inform the client of the recruiting landscape and industry standards for compensation so they can create a competitive package for candidates.Another great way to show youre an expert is to be an ongoing, reliable resource for them to ask questions and learn from you. This can be as simple as sending over an article you thought they might find interesting, or recommending an event they might like to attend, or connecting them with another expert in the space.And sometimes being an expert means saying no- for example, when you cant deliver what they need or you need to push back when their expectations arent aligned or are unrealistic. Lets continue with the recruiting example. Maybe your clients expectations of experience and skill set of a candidate are not aligned with the compensation theyre willing to offer. Its then your role to push back and educate them on what type of candidate they can expect for t heir price point. Even if it feels uncomfortable to do, itll be much worse to let them continue on and ultimately fail in hiring someone.7. Be a Stellar CommunicatorCommunication plays a pivotal role in building strong relationships with anyone, but especially with clients. And while we encourage leaning on the personal touch that face-to-face or phone conversations can provide, most of your communication will probably be done via email. So its important to know how to effectively interact online.Always write emails that are clear and concise. This means not rambling or providing information thats irrelevant, and keeping things short and to the point with a clear purpose or call to action. Also make sure the important stuff is close to the top (if not highlighted) so it cant be missed. And this may be another it goes without saying moment, but dont forget to edit your emails for spelling and grammar- simple mistakes can have your client questioning your attention to detail or level of professionalism. One last note about email communication Its always best practice after any conversation with your client to recap what you understand the takeaways to be in an email. It ensures you know what needs to be done, leaves no room for confusion or surprises, and holds you both accountable. 8. Own Your Mistakes (and Be Solutions-Oriented)Mistakes and mishaps are bound to happen- the key is how you bounce back from them.That means addressing the issues right away (and apologizing if youre at fault), communicating clearly whats going on, coming up with real, thoughtful solutions to what went wrong, and following through on those solutions.For example, lets say youre a publicist, and somehow your team misses the early-bird registration deadline to confirm a booth at the biggest tradeshow of the year for your client. As soon as you realize the mistake, regroup with your team, strategize a solution, and tell the client. It might sound something like this I wanted to update y ou on our progress. We had an internal miscommunication and missed the booth registration deadline to lock in the cost we originally discussed, and now the cost is X. We know this is unacceptable, and sincerely apologize. We want you to know weve made some changes internally so this wont happen again, and we will incur the cost difference to register for a booth so you wont see any changes to the budget.(If youre looking for more advice, check out this article on apologizing to a client and this one on backtracking on a promise you made.)9. Be YourselfRemember You were hired because your boss, company, and client believed you were the right person for the job. So embrace that. Plus, people tend to catch on when you arent being yourself. When you operate with authenticity, people know what to expect from you in terms of communication and the type of support you can provide, and it allows you to create actual connections that last in the long term. 10. Dont Just Be All BusinessYes, yo u were hired to complete work of some sort, and a huge part of a successful client relationship is about getting that work done- and well. But strong client relationships that grow and withstand setbacks are built on genuine connection, not just transactions. Its all in the small details- like offering recommendations on places to visit for an upcoming vacation and then remembering to check in to see how that trip went. Or acknowledging accomplishments that have nothing to do with your work together, like their recent promotion or a speaking engagement they participated in. Or sending them a card over the holidays or when they have a baby. Clients are people first and foremost. When you treat them as such- and not just as vehicles to hit your goals or make money- you instantly make yourself stand out from the pack.I cant tell you that following these tips to a T will guarantee that all your clients stick around for the long haul. Even the best client managers lose out on key relatio nships for reasons outside of their control- like budgeting issues or priority shifts. But good client managers also recognize that delivering is about more than just hanging on to a client- its about maintaining a positive reputation that encourages people to maybe return one day or spread the word to others. Thats what makes these actions worthwhile.

6 Tips for Working Wwith Coworkers You Dont Like

6 Tips for Working Wwith Coworkers You Dont Like6 Tips for Working Wwith Coworkers You Dont LikeWork would be totally awesome if you could always work with people that you like. These are the people who you not only respect in the workdistributionspolitik but are happy to socialize with outside of work, too. Wouldnt that be a dream come true? Well, maybe, and maybe not. Some people like to keep a complete separation between their work and their social life, otzu sichs are comfortable inviting their coworkers to share their social time. But everyone wants to have a nice place to go to work. A nice place to work is defined by the people working there and the workplace practices and environment. Unfortunately, you cant always pick the people with whom you work. So sometimes you get stuck working with a coworker you not only dont click with but who is a person whom you actively dislike, or even think you hate. How do you survive this situation? (Sure, you can always get a new job and qui t, but its silly to give up a job that you like in an organization that is otherwise good because of one colleague you dislike or are learning to hate.)So, what can you do instead of quitting? Here are six tips for getting along with even the most annoying people you dislike. Document the Disliked Coworkers Bad Behavior Mia used to work with a woman that she couldnt stand. At first, she thought it was just her own pettiness. She was pretty and smart and rapidly climbing the company ladder. Was she just jealous? Mia convinced herself that that was the case- she didnt like her because she was just petty and jealous. Now, that is a reason to cause you to dislike a coworker, but in this case, it turns out that wasnt the real reason. When she lied to asenior person in another department about workMia had done, she realized that her coworker was simply a horrible person. At that point, she was able to see that she wasnt the only person the coworker had happily sacrificed to make herse lf look better. Once Mia learned this about her, she understood that her unconscious mind had picked up on the coworkers sleazy character before she could see it clearly in action. But, Mia still had to work with her. They were peers, so she had no hire/fire power over the coworker. Mia otherwise loved her job and wanted to stay in it. So, she actively changed her interactions with the coworker. Knowing that she had no trouble lying about any conversations, Mia stopped speaking to her face to face and communicated via email so that every interaction was documented. While the supposed colleague remained a rotten person, she never did anything overtly to hinder Mias career again. She knew she wasnt going to get away with that behavior again. Identify Whether Youre Actually the Problem Sometimes the reason you dont like a coworker is that the person has the same bad habits that you do. When they reflect back at you, you dont like it. Sometimes, you dislike a coworker because that p erson is always criticizing you or telling you what to do. Ask yourself if her complaints are valid. For example, when your office enemy says, Are you going to get that report done on time? is she picky and naggy or have you finished the report late for the past three months? If its the latter, you can fix your relationship by fixing your own behavior. Since the only behavior you have any control over is your own, this is good to know. Try to Learn About the Coworker You Dont Like You give people you know and like the benefit of the doubt far mora often than you give it to strangers. When you learn what causes your coworker to tick, you might like her better. For instance, your coworker who is crabby all of the time might just have gone through a terrible divorce where she lost custody of her children. Understandably, shes not happy at the moment. Maybe management passed her over for promotions three times in a row. Maybe she has a deep and abiding love for cats and just wants t o talk about them. Anything is possible and it doesnt make the person even nicer, but it makes you see where shes coming from. And that can help you learn to like the coworker you think you dont like. Be the Adult in the Room When you were in elementary school, teachers expected you to get along with everyone, no matter what. If you could do that when you were seven, why cant you do it at 37? The answer is that you can. You dont have to become best friends- you do need to be polite. You need to do your job. Help other people. Dont respond to pettiness and bad behavior. Just act nicely and professionally all of the time. Professionalism can be contagious. Never, Ever Gossip About the Coworker You Dislike When you have a coworker you dislike, the temptation to talk about her with the coworkers you do like is sometimes overwhelming. Its fun to sit at work and talk about horrible Helga and the way she chews her food or uses Comic Sans in her emails. Ask yourself, what good will this do? Will it help your relationship with Helga? No. Will it make you a stronger candidate for promotion? No. Will it make your department more productive? Of course not. Dont gossip. Dont complain. Just be nice. Treat the coworker you dont like with professionalism and respect. Seek Help With the Disliked Coworker If your coworker causes actual problems with your work, talk to your manager. Ask your HR manager for tips about how to get along with your coworker. They really are there to help and many times, its possible for a manager to rearrange assignments so that you dont have to constantly interact with a coworker you dont like. This is a last-ditch resort, but it can work. All and all, remember that work is work and not loving every aspect of your job doesnt mean its a bad job or that your coworkers are bad people. It means that your life is pretty darn normal. - - - - - - - - - - - - Suzanne Lucas is a freelance journalist specializing in Human Resources. Suzannes work has been featured on notes publications including Forbes, CBS, Business Insider and Yahoo.

Getting Your Body Into It

Getting Your Body Into It Getting Your Body Into It Getting Your Body Into ItBen Severson has been among the elite body boarders of the worldand he shares his passion by designing boards for his peers. Though theyve been around in one form or another for much longer, Severson says the bodyboard design we know today is largely due to Tom Moreys work in the 1970s. He took some packaging foam and recreated the shape and design of the paipo board in a modern soft foam product, Severson says. His design incorporated the ability to change the rocker of the board, the curve from the front to the back of the board. Think of a boat hullsome are flat bottom, some have a lot of curve from nose to back. Its amazing what you can do with a bodyboard. And what Severson could do welches bring his own experience and instinct to the creative process. Heres his design philosophy. I start my initial design fabricating it custom to the person, says Severson, who makes his home in Hawaii. You start with their height and weight but then its also understanding the riding conditions theyre dealing with and what they want. The straight line design is faster but, you go curvier, and it becomes more maneuverable. Also, the placement of the wide point. I do it where your elbow rests on the board. Or if doing drop-knee style, then lower to where knee is on the board. Drop-knee style usually puts a little bit more curve into the board and puts the width of the nose in a bit more so it doesnt catch and cause pearling.Ben Severson, a pioneer of bodyboarding, and world champion. prestige Ben Severson The machinery used to create the boards is mostly custom built, he says. You basically have a core material, then you have a skin between one eight of an inch and one fourth of an inch thats heat laminated to that material, he says. Those are done with industrial laminator rollers at about 800 degrees with a certain amount of pounds of pressure. He says making channels in the board can be done man y ways. One way is proprietary machineries or you could go by hand using anything from belt sanders to jigsaws. Severson likes to use a rounded rail that he calls a transitional rail. According to his companys website, this allows the board to go against shearing off water, which it says can slow the board down. It also states that the rounded rail system improves turning efficiency. Severson says the material has changed in terms of flexibility. You used to be able to bend it over and touch the nose of the board to the tail of the board without it breaking, he says. You now have composite rods in them to keep the board stiffer so when people do big aerial maneuvers it doesnt fold boards in half. He adds that the material is more of a crispier foam than a spongy foam, which he says leads to a better performance. For Severson, his thrill is from watching someone find that better performance in the sport hes known for decades. Everybody talks about the importance of job satisfaction, he says. For me, you see somebody that has been using the wrong equipment and to then help design for them and their riding, thats my love. When I hear someone say, I cant believe how much better and faster Im going, thats what its all about. Eric Butterman is an independent writer. For Further Discussion When I hear someone say, I cant believe how much better and faster Im going, thats what its all about.Ben Severson, Ben Severson Designs

Cities with the Happiest Workers During the Holidays

Cities with the Happiest Workers During the Holidays Cities with the Happiest Workers During the Holidays */Read the infographic text.CITIES WITH THE HAPPIEST WORKERS DURING THE HOLIDAYSRank* City1 San Francisco, CA2 New York, NY3 San Diego, CA4 (tie) Atlanta, GA4 (tie) Miami, FL6 Phoenix, AZ7 (tie) Houston, TX7 (tie) St. Louis, MO9 Austin, TX10 (tie) Charlotte, NC10 (tie) Chicago, IL12 Dallas, TX13 Raleigh, NC14 Los Angeles, CA15 (tie) Minneapolis, MN15 (tie) Pittsburgh, PA17 Cincinnati, OH18 Washington, D.C.19 Seattle, WA20 Boston, MA21 Salt Lake City, UT22 Des Moines, IA23 Denver, CO24 (tie) Detroit, MI24 (tie) Indianapolis, IN26 (tie) Cleveland, OH26 (tie) Philadelphia, PASource Accountemps survey of more than 2,700 workers in the United States*Cities ranked from most to least happy. 2017 Accountemps. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.

Safety Tips for Working With Animals

Safety Tips for Working With AnimalsSafety Tips for Working With AnimalsWorking with animals is certainly an attractive prospect, but there are always risks related to any job that involves hands-on interaction with animals (whether you are working with pets, livestock, or wildlife). Animals can be somewhat unpredictable when they are under stress or in an unfamiliar environment, like when they visit theveterinary office or the groomingsalon, so it is important to be attentive and stay aware of the animal you are handling at all times. You can minimize your risk of injury by following these animal handling safety guidelines 01Approach All Animals With CautionTake care to avoid blind spots and approach animals slowly so that they are always aware of your presence. Talk softly as you approach an animal so it hears you coming. Sudden movements are never a good idea, regardless of the species or breed involved.02Stay Alert at All TimesBites, kicks, and scratches are often delivered when a handler is distracted. When you are working with animals they need to have your complete attention at all times. A moment of carelessness is all it takes to sustain a potentially serious injury. Dont let yourself be distracted by a cell phone or idle chatter with other handlers.03Study the Behavior of the SpeciesHandlers must pay close attention to the behavioral signals that an animal displays. It is very important to recognize negative body language- especially the signs of agitation. Horses pin their ears, strike with their teeth, and kick when upset. Dogs growl, crouch, and bare their teeth when they feel threatened. Be sure to learn the warning signs when you departure to work with a new species.04Take Precautions Against Zoonotic DiseasesZoonotic diseases are those that can be transmitted directly from animals to humans. Examples of zoonotic diseases include ringworm, salmonella, herpes B, rabies, hepatitis, and tuberculosis. You should be familiar with the basic signs of an infected animal and be aware of how transmission can occur so you can take the proper precautions to avoid infection. Be sure to seek immediate medical attention after any potential exposure.05Minimize Allergic ReactionsAllergens such as animal dander can potentially cause sneezing, wheezing, eye irritation, or hives. Some individuals have severe breathing emergencies which require ?theuse of an inhaler or even hospitalization. Allergy shots may be necessary to minimize your reaction so that you can safely work with animals in a hands-on capacity. You may also need to entirely avoid certain types of animals if you are severely allergic to them.06Inspect Handling Facilities for SafetySharp edges, slippery floors, improper lighting, and other structural hazards are responsible for many accidents and injuries. It is important to maintain a safe workenvironment and to keep all animal handling equipment in good working order.07Wear Personal Protective EquipmentItems of personal protecti ve equipment can include a variety of options such as safety glasses, latex gloves, masks, steel toed footwear, helmets, coveralls, and lead aprons. If there is a product available and it is appropriate for the task at hand, consider taking advantage of it. Protective equipment can greatly minimize the chances of injury.08Restrain Animals ProperlySecuring animals safely can help you to avoid sprains, strains, slip and fall accidents, and other physical injuries. Large animals, such as cattle and horses, should be placed in stocks or stalls. Halters, hobbles or other restraints can also be utilized. Dogs can be muzzled and cats can be wrapped gently in towels. In extreme cases, a tranquilizer should be administered by a veterinarian.09Dispose of Medical Waste in Appropriate ContainersAlways handle any hazardous medical equipment (such as needles or chemicals) with extreme caution. Never throw needles away in the trash. Most clinics and farms keep special red biohazard disposal boxes on hand for this purpose.10Have an Exit StrategyAn exit strategy is especially important when working with large animals in pens, stalls, or chutes. Dont allow yourself to get cornered. Maintain a clear path of escape at all times. You could be seriously injured if you are pinned in a corner by one of the larger livestock species.

Un-Answered Questions Into Business Resume Examples Revealed

Un-Answered Questions Into Business Resume Examples Revealed It is essential that such applicants take a peek at the templates until they consider making a resumeA so they might improve their odds of being selected on the grounds of their application. Because you are asking for an administrative position, you have to be able to supply the vital requests of people within the reach of the departement or division where youre assigned. The clearest approach to order the info is to outline the goals of the undertaking, what the day-to-day duties were on the undertaking and finally the essential achievements or deliverables of the person. Possessing the technical skills that are needed for administrative works will enable you to multi-task when necessary and focus when required. Business Analysts are tasked to produce the organization andrang better by finding solutions to current difficulties, introduce efficient methods of managing responsibilities and searching for comparative bene fits versus competition in the business. Standard administration resumesAshould be in a position to concentrate on your technical abilities and other skill sets that may help you strengthen the support system that the business needs. Finding the proper words for your business enterprise administrator CV might be challenging. Getting in the area of business demands skill and experience. By carefully targeting resumes for particular jobs, you are able to greatly enhance your odds of getting noticed in the work industry. Hiring managers read career objectives all of the moment, and its simple for them to see through unusually intricate sentence structures and vocabulary. So it is a great idea to abflug your resume with some essential points that will capture the interest of the hiring manager. In the end, focus on how the recruiter or hiring manager will concentrate on results. Update If Not Happy With Your Job If you are not happy with your work, if youre dissatisfied and frust rated with the job youre doing, then youre losing more than you would if you simply quit. Be certain to mention the position you want, and any appropriate education and certifications which youve attained. Possessing several versions of your resume is recommended if youre applying for many forms of jobs. Microsoft Excel is likewise very essential for many in the area, with functions like VLOOKUP and PivotTables of specific importance. Then you may receive a visually distinctive resume sent out to possible employers. Referring to our organization administration resume sample will be able to help you determine any weak points in your document. Companies are centered on the bottom-line. Businessmen and business directors Bring evidence of your position in the organization and remuneration. Business analysis can encompass an assortment of responsibilities that are unique to the field theyre in. It is vital to emphasize the skills that are often utilized by Business Analysts irre spective of the business. The part of a Business Analyst will change from industry to industry. The function of the Business Analyst has grown in importance as the international small business environment has gotten more unpredictable. A certified small business analyst resume is a resume which certifies the experience and qualifications of a company analyst whos interested to work for a specific organization. Individualize each resume to fit the particular job, together with the organization. So, the introduction of a proper small business analyst resume is needed. The templates mentioned previously would be grand when youre looking for help in drafting the very best possible resumes for the job of a company analyst. Following that, it ought to impress the hiring manager with information which is relevant to them. Hiring managers will be searching for what skills you have related to the job which you seek. Different company and administration jobs need specific degrees and c ertifications, so be certain to highlight your education. They require specific degrees.

Working in Blockchain Lucrative Careers in Cutting-Edge Tech

Working in Blockchain Lucrative Careers in Cutting-Edge Tech Not only has the initial coin offering (ICO) and cryptocurrency gold rush sparked massive investment, but it is also establishing a brand new industry containing plenty of exciting new jobs.From the obvious roles of engineers and full stack developers to the not-so-obvious ones like business strategists and content writers, here are some of the newly created cryptocurrency and blockchain careersyou may want to consider Blockchain Engineer/Smart Contract DeveloperThese are the folks who create and maintain the blockchain network. A background in programming is essential, and an understanding of cryptosecurity and smart contracts is a big plus. Proficiency in C++, PHP, and Python is key, too. Demand for unterstellung roles is steadily increasing, meaning the salaries are, too. According to Howtotoken.com Founder Kirill Shilov, freelancers can earn as much as $150 per hour, and salaried employe es can rake in up to $130,000 a year.Full Stack DeveloperWhile engineers are responsible for making sure the blockchain network runs properly, full stack developers focus on the front end, developing and maintaining a user-friendly interface that makes the blockchain securely accessible to users. Knowledge and experience of both front and back end workings are big bonuses. Potential employers will be looking for skills in relational and non-relational databases, hardware expertise, and quality assurance, plus proficiency in Javascript, C++, HTML, and PHP programming. A salaried role can net you $80,000 $150,000 a year.Community ManagerWhats the point in developing an innovative blockchain solution if no one uses it?This is where community managers come in. Community managers are in charge of outreach and engagement, actively managing and interacting with user bases on social media and niche forums.Community managers ensure the right message is being sentand that the feedback of inv estors and users reaches the right ears. The average salary for community managers is between $46,000 and $54,000, but these people are often paid on a per-project basis. Compliance OfficerThis is an essential role, because the blockchain and cryptocurrency spheres are still developing. Rules and regulations change often, and compliance offices are there to ensure that a companys operations conform with the relevant financial and legal stipulations. Additionally, compliance officerskeep track of pending legislation and prepare the organization to comply with new laws before they come into effect.Compliance officers generally need a background in legal and/or finance and expertise in risk management, oversight, monitoring, and combatting money laundering.The typical compliance officer salaryfalls in the $50,000 $86,000 range.ICO Advisor and StrategistAn ICO business is filled with people passionate about their innovation, but getting the project off the ground requires more than she er excitement. These companies need to raise significant capital to entdeckung their development.Enter ICO advisors and strategists. They swoop in to analyze operations, core values, and objectives, and then they develop bespoke plans to see an ICO through from inception to fruition. A talented advisor stays with their client every step of the way, informing them of the next milestone in sight and how to reach it.ICO Reviewer and ConsultantICO reviewers and consultants generally work alongside advisors/strategists, but they take a more technical approach.A reviewer will look at all aspects of an ICO including the minimum viable product, prototypes, the team, the community, and the overall potential for growth. Then, they will use this information to create a detailed report on the operation from top to bottom, identifying areas that need strengthening and advising on how to meet critical milestones.Content WritersIn order to assert its presence and get its message out, every ICO nee ds a team of talented writers to market the campaign effectively.Successful content writersare thoroughly versed in the various publishing platforms, and they know which content formats are best for accurately and clearly portraying ICO and blockchain companies inan engaging manner. Writers will also have the necessary technical knowledge to understand how blockchain works, and theyll keep up to date on the latest industry berichterstattung and regulations.If any of these roles speak to you, then maybe its time toembark on your journey into the blockchain world. Now is the time to get in on the ground floor while the industry is still developing and expanding. Theres a whole new decentralized and cashless world out there. If you are passionate about technology,this may be the sphere for you.Radu Balas runs the ICO marketing company ICO Battle.

Dont Be These 4 People at Work

Dont Be These 4 People at WorkDont Be These 4 People at Work Everyone has worked with someone who rubs people the wrong way . People like this may bedrngnis know that their behaviors annoy everyone else, and in some cases, they actually think their actions are positive.Its hard to let people like that know that their behavior has hurt their standing in the workplace . What you can do, however, is make koranvers youre not one of these typical workplace drags. To do that, you need to make an honest self-assessment to binnensee if you engage in the actions associated with any of the categories of people were going to talk about.In many cases, this isnt an all-in situation. Its not about whether you exhibit some of these characteristics on an occasional basis. Instead, you need to examine if youre a chronic practitioner of any of these behaviors. If you are, then it may be time to consider making some changes.Sometimes things go wrong at work and its perfectly justified t o complain to your co-workers. Thats reasonable, if rare, but when complaining becomes the norm, you bring the entire mood of the office down.If things are that bad, then it may be time to move on . Feeding negativity doesnt bring about change and can poison an otherwise positive environment.That doesnt mean you shouldnt try to correct workplace wrongs. If there are legitimate concerns, bring them up through the proper channels. If that doesnt work, then complaining to co-workers certainly wont accomplish anything.Its natural for people who work together to speculate on the private lives of their co-workers. Keep those thoughts to yourself. Who may or may not be dating in the office is not an acceptable workplace discussion topic.You should even be careful when it comes to work-related gossip. You may know that someone is getting a promotion or someone else is getting fired, but its important to make sure news like that gets delivered through the right channels, rather than you , so it doesnt make its way to the people involved before theyre properly notified.Many years ago, in my first summer as a paid employee of the camp where I had previously attended as a camper, our group was often tasked with physical labor. That might mean doing heavy lifting or engaging in unpleasant tasks like dealing with clogged plumbing.One of my co-workers had an amazing ability to be otherwise engaged when this schriftart of labor came up. When that happens a few times, it may be an accident. When it starts happening every time, the rest of the staff gets resentful.In this case, my co-workers made it clear that this person was ducking his responsibilities. They made it a mission to track him down when the absolute worst assignments came up and make sure he got them.People will resent you if you always find your way out of the hardest work. Make sure you do more than your fair share, so that when you really do have to say no to something extra or unpleasant, it wont cause a problem.There are lots of names for the person who kisses up to the boss a little too much, and none of them are good. Again, this can be a fine line. You certainly want to support and respect the person in charge, but theres a difference between that and being a fawning lackey.Obviously, how you treat your boss depends a lot on him or her. Some bosses carry themselves as above the workers, while others take a more one of the team type approach. No matter what the person you work for is like, treat them as they ask to be treated, but not as if they can do no wrong or that the sun rises because of them.You can avoid being any of the people on this list by focusing on being the best co-worker possible. That requires that you sometimes examine your own behavior and consider how it affects others. If you do that regularly, youre likely to be a more-valued member of the workforce.

Growth, comfort cant coexist in business  The best way forward

Growth, comfort cant coexist in business The best way forwardGrowth, comfort cant coexist in business The best way forwardErik prferenz is a visual artist, author, and highly sought-after keynotlagee speaker who inspires audiences to unleash their creativity and achieve superior performance. Author and award-winning podcaster David Burkus recently hosted him on Radio Free Leader to discuss how the creative principles of wandmalerei art can help anyone make an innovative impact at work.David When most people think of a graffiti artist, they either think of punk kids spray painting on streetcars, or they think of Banksy. But you take the lessons from both Banksy and the punks, and apply them to anybody thats trying to make an impact in the world.Erik When I first departureed exploring art at the age of 30, the art that I was most drawn to were the street artists - the Banksys, the MadCs, the Kobras - this really thought-provoking, almost anarchistic art. I saw it as a form of communi cation.So even though I did do sculpture, writing, and photography, I became a self-proclaimed graffiti artist because that was what interested me the most. And it was the most sticky - the fact that I was a graffiti artist who was on the corporate lecture circuit talking to Fortune 500 companies about innovation and creativity.But one of the things that Ive learned is that art is not about creating a product, but creating thinking. Whether that thinking is complex problem-solving, figuring out supply chain distribution opportunities, anticipating emerging trends and future markets, or painting a self-portrait, that process of thinking is all the same.David Thats so amazing, because in a corporate setting, when we talk about the flipside of creativity or of art, we use the word innovation. Which is funny to me, because a lot of times what blocks innovation is that lack of thinking, right? So art is about creating something that provokes thought and attempts innovation, whether it b e a product, a service, or just a procedure or process.Erik It very much is. And so much of ur perception of creativity is largely based around myths You were born either with or without creativity. What I have experienced is that creativity is basically deprogrammed out of us through our academic institutions and through our organizational learning. When we deify those as absolutes, we lose so much of our creative potential. We get this tunnel vision, focused on one specific point in time which, given the amazingly rapid changes that are taking place around us, is no longer relevant.Discipline is what enables creativity, and creativity without discipline is like a river without banks.You cant approach this as a tactic, or a strategy, or a best practice. Youve got to be agile. Youve got to have mental dexterity. You have to be able to navigate ambiguity. And thats where the arts are one of those training grounds for being able to look at a blank canvas and not be intimidated, to be able to step forward and start creating, even if you dont yet know what the end product is going to look like.David You are totally speaking my language.You said something really interesting - you didnt pursue being an artist until your thirties.Erik You know, I was a model student. I was trained to get good grades so that I could get a good job, so that I could make lots of money, and then build security, and then retire, and then be happy. That was my entire operating system, and it worked very well.Around the age of 30, I had what my wife and I call an early midlife crisis. The dot-com bomb blindsided me, as it did so many other people, and I was completely ill-equipped to deal with such a significant setback. And it wasnt, You know what? Im going to be an artist. That only came about through tremendous suffering, and hardship, and a loss of identity and ego, because I senfgas all of my financial security. I lost my job. I lost everything I had identified with.Mercifully, it was through spending time with some artists who cared about me that I became fascinated with their view of the world. They say that once youve lost everything, you are free to explore anything, and thats really where this started. I found new life in this exploration of the arts.And I wasnt making any money at it. It didnt provide any financial security, but it provided a flicker of hope, a reason to get out bed in the morning. There were so many unhealthy choices I could have made to numb the pain that I was feeling, and I have great empathy for others who have experienced pain or hardship and have turned to unhealthy addictions, because I get it. Fortunately, I didnt, and I found new life through art.As I began to explore that, I couldnt get enough. I almost became intoxicated by this idea of studying the masters, studying the psychology behind art, studying the techniques on how to paint, how to binnensee, how to sculpt, how to write. I approached it from a sense of unbridled curios ity and fascination, which I think taught me faster than any formal art training would have. And thats where that new brand evolved from.I think J.K. Rowling said that, Rock bottom is a great place to start. Build a new foundation. Thats truly what happened to me, this process of a very analytical, practical, rational business thinker morphing into an imaginative, innovative, creative, explorative artist.David The life history that you just unpacked lines up with a lot of the research that I unpacked in The Myths of Creativity. We have this misunderstanding that these things are binary, that there is being the educated, disciplined, intellectual, academic person, or being the freewheeling, freethinking, creative, explorational person. What I heard was you taking that same disciplined process as a student and applying it to the arts, and learning a lot more a lot quicker because of that process. Theres a creative element, but theres also a lot of discipline involved for any artist wh o manages to provoke thought on a wide scale.Erik My career would not have been possible if I had not had that structured, analytical approach in the beginning. And we need that. We need structure. We need discipline. I needed that academic background be able to circle around creativity, to see it from different angles.The largest take-home from my book is that structure creates freedom. Discipline is what enables creativity, and creativity without discipline is like a river without banks. It will just run without a focal point, without an end goal in mind. And weve got to not only create that passion, that curiosity for unlocking the future, but we also need to build actionable substance, and steps, and discipline by which to get there. We also need to have the agility by which to navigate bumps in the road, and to face resistance, and to work through it. And that takes tremendous discipline. It is far easier to teach an analytical, business professional how to be intuitive or crea tive than it is for me to teach an emotional, intuitive artist how to be structured or disciplined. And so thats really where the concept for The Spark and the Grind came from. Its not either, or - its yes, and. They work as a yin and yang function together.You get promoted for having all the answers, even if you have the wrong questions.David We see the same thing when we start working with businesses. Theres this idea that, Oh, if we can just get freewheeling and creative, if we just look like Google or Pixar, thatll solve the whole thing. And what a lot of people dont realize is that those firms are so innovative not just because of the quirkiness, but also because of the discipline with which they bring that quirkiness into a tangible, scalable idea.Erik One of the most common questions I get is, Hey, what are some examples of companies youve worked with and the creative ideas theyve implemented? And Im hesitant to give specific examples because thats what worked yesterday. Onc e I give an example of what Google does, of what Uber does, of what Airbnb has done, then we try to plug our ideology into that old formula. But consumer behavior changes daily. And so rather than give a man a fish, I want to teach him how to fish. I want to teach him how to think, how to adapt, how to be mentally agile. Its an expanding of consciousness, an expanding of emotional intelligence to be able to unlock problems that havent yet been invented.David One of the things you explore is this idea that we need to be seeking out things that make us uncomfortable, things that we dont any expertise in, things that we have permission to be a novice in. And thats so counter to most organizations cultures, because you dont get promoted for saying you dont know the answer, right? You get promoted for having all the answers, even if you have the wrong questions.Erik Right. We were promoted for getting 20 out of 20 on our spelling test, getting 100% on our math test, and our children migr ate towards that which theyre affirmed for. When theyre affirmed for doing well in these linear subjects, they will move in that direction. If theyre not rewarded for philosophical thinking, complex problem-solving, the arts, then theyre not going to go that direction.Weve got to become more comfortable with being uncomfortable.In business, growth and comfort cannot coexist, so weve got to become more comfortable with being uncomfortable. Weve got to create cultures and environments that reward those mini-bursts of creativity and those opportunities where we might fail. And failure is not the opposite of success- its part of success. And its the culture inside that organization that chooses not to shame failure, but rather encourage it as an opportunity to self-correct.And you know, it really comes down to hiring individuals that arent linear, formulaic robots, but free thinkers who have the companys best ideas in mind. Its important to all be unified in a painted picture for the fu ture, but its not one leader tyrannically dictating how to get there. Its going to be a collection of diverse, creative thinkers that are all going to take different paths to get there.Our complete ideology is centered around risk mitigation, but we forget to look at the risk associated with being too structured. Theres so much disruption with social, mobile, and cloud technologies. Were coming into artificial intelligence, autonomous driving, virtual reality- things that our learned minds, our scholastic minds, are not prepared for. We need to be able to let go of that and latch onto something new, onto changing trends in consumer behavior. Mental dexterity, agility, and emotional intelligence are the new Holy Grail for individuals and organizations.David And our current education system isnt teaching that mental dexterity. Its affirming, You are as valuable as you can memorize concepts and spit them back to me. But we probably cant overhaul the education system in our lifetime. Yo u have three sons what do you do to affirm the skills that we just talked about?Mental dexterity, agility, and emotional intelligence are the new Holy Grail for individuals and organizations.Erik The onus is going to be on the parents, because our school system is not going to change. I used to be the biggest angry voice We need to change the educational system But when I did that, the people who were getting caught in the crosshairs were our most valuable resource the teachers. The teachers are the ones who are nurturing the kids. They became teachers because they wanted to grow young minds into the best possible version that they could be.So what did I do? Ignite fascination and curiosity in my boys outside of the classroom. School is going to be school. Theyre going to teach them reading, writing, and arithmetic. And frankly, that doesnt interest me all that much. As their dad, I dont want to teach them how to read. I dont want to teach them how to do math. In fact, a lot of the math that they did, I cant even do anymore. What I wanted to do was ignite their fascination beyond the four walls of the classroom. I wanted to bring culture and history alive to them - travel with them, teach them about the arts, teach them about empathy, teach them about love, teach them about suffering, and then work with them on their own artistic talents. My boys ended up being singers and songwriters. They play musical instruments. They also do a lot of painting, and exploring, and photography, and filmmaking. Every one of those skills is all about the philosophy of problem-solving. And it has allowed them to become very agile and adroit in handling the challenges that theyre experiencing in college right now.David A lot of the things that weve been talking about can be done on a managerial level with your team of people, treating them the same way you would treat a family, making sure youre not squelching their creativity.Final question in your view, what makes someone a le ader?Erik The ability to ignite other individuals, and to help them become the very best version of themselves. A leader breathes life into those around them, not through formulas, but through empathy and through understanding what lights them up. Because once theyre self-driven and ignited from the inside, all the leader has to do is step out of the way and help guide them going forward.This conversation has been edited and condensed. To listen to the full version, click here.This article first appeared on Heleo.

Study This is how much unproductive people undermine performance

Study This is how much unproductive people undermine performanceStudy This is how much unproductive people undermine performanceIt only takes one or two kollektiv members to undermine results for the entire group when they mess up, research from leadership training experts Vitalsmarts shows . Overwhelmed and less-productive team members affect performance by as much as 24%.In an online survey of 1,160 people, 90% said that when their teammates mess up, it costs the team in various ways loss of morale, trust, productivity, work quality, client or customer service, etc.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreTeams are fragile, Justin Hale, master trainer from Vitalsmarts said. I think that we absolutely found in our research that one or two people making some of these fumbles whether its not writing something down, not capturing it, or working on stuff that is busy work, but not the mos t important work that what starts to happen over time as the output of the team goes down, but also the trust in each other goes down.Hale shared some tips for getting the most out of team productivity adapted from Vitalsmarts training.To ignore this advice, he says, means more bad schmelzglas and more crappy meetings and more email, more crappy email.End with action. At the end of every meeting, finish up seven to 10 minutes early and say, What is the next action were going to take? And whos going to take it? And where are we going to follow up? Dont settle for vague answers make sureeveryone has a next action and a plan for follow-up.Create a capture culture.Write things down. That way you wont forget them, and youll follow through, which will make your colleagues trust you more. Create a note any way that works for you a Notes app, or whether youre emailing yourself, or write it down on paper and pencil. Capture everything, and trust goes up.Do the right stuff.So how do you as a team, help each other to do more of the right things? Define different types of work, and put boundaries around it. Dont spend all your time working on the surprises that pop up. Be respectful around email help each other by putting at the top of every email the desired action they want.Make it okay to say no. Create a culture where its okay to renegotiate tasks and projects, and where you can go to your boss if your plate is too full and ask to have your duties reallocated without that being a sign of defeat.Its all about developing good habits, Hale said. If people dont have the habits, youre going to get the fumbles, he warned. And its going to take a hit on your productivity by 20% or more.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people