When she’s not at work in the 9 to 5 world, Sneha is a writer, amateur photographer, traveler, and fanatic of coffee and chocolate. She blogs about work, health, money, self development and a hodgepodge of other favorite topics over at limitfreelifestyle.wordpress.com . Sneha is always is open to your thoughts, questions and positive comments and guest posting opportunities. Feel free to contact her at limitfreelifestyle@gmail.com . You can also add her on Twitter handle@twiterrific84.
I’m always looking for new good reads, especially those on self-improvement, with catchy titles. I just finished reading Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office: 101 Unconscious Mistakes Women Make That Sabotage Their Careers and since there were so many helpful tips in the book, I wanted to share my thoughts on a few that I thought were most important.
- Spend 5% of the day building relationships – Although sometimes work might feel routine, depending on what the job is, we are NOT machines at work. In my years of work, I’ve noticed no matter what level you are at it pays off to connect with your coworkers at the water cooler or coffee shop or wherever you say your “good mornings”. Connecting with colleagues has not only allowed me to learn things, but it’s also allowed me to boost my mood and level of happiness while at work.
- Take a break every 90 minutes – While the amount of time between breaks might differ for everyone, it IS important to take a break, especially if you are sitting in front of a computer all day. Your eyes need the rest, your body needs movement and you need to refresh yourself during your workday.
- Say what needs to be said – It’s important to allow your voice to be heard rather than hiding in the shadows. Speak up when needed. At the same time,
- Soften the truth – It’s always been said “You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar”. Speak the truth but put it in a way that reflects well on you and pleases the listeners.
- Be likable and respected – Pretty self explanatory. You might as well be sweet and pleasant to be around, especially since your colleagues spend the most time with you during the week.
- Don’t poll before making an important decision – Polling shows that you cannot think for yourself or that you cannot make firm decisions. Yes it is important to value the opinions of your teammates, but it’s just as equally important to stand true to what you believe.
- Ask questions. None are stupid – Regardless of young or old, experienced or a newcomer to the team, everyone has a different learning curve. It’s better to ask and be well informed instead of make avoidable ( and possibly costly) mistakes.
- Offer a firm handshake – I can’t tell you the countless number of “cold fish handshakes” I’ve received, especially from other women. As a women it is important to give a firm handshake. This portrays confidence in ourselves.
These are only a few of the smart tips from the book and I highly encourage you to read this book if you haven’t already. What are some of your favorite pieces of advice in the working world?
