Alexandra Levits Water Cooler Wisdom Process Improvement Questions You Should Ask

Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom Process Improvement Questions You Should Ask Mostpeople can identify when something’s broken, either by themselves or with help from their teams. But it’s another matter entirely to improve the process in a way that aligns with overall business objectives, integrates well with existing systems, is fully visible, and improves productivity and other essential outcomes. Here, we explore questions you should ask before taking action. What defines process improvement success? It’s critical to improve an individual process not for the process’ sake, but because it helps to solve a business problem. Often, when your constituents say they’re unhappy with something, they haven’t really explored the root of the problem and what can be done to solve it effectively through a business process. The main strategy here is to openly discuss your constituents’ core priorities and pains. Gather their input not just on processes they don’t like, but ones that they DO like. This will facilitate everyone’s understanding of why certain processes exist in the first place and the issues they were designed to alleviate. Once you’ve identified the business problem at the heart of this particular process, you must also identify what the process will do to address the problem, the parameters of the improvement and/or solution, and how you will measure success. On this last point, process improvements should be quantifiable and easy to map to common business metrics. How can our process have the biggest impact? If you’ve completed the activities above, you have likely achieved alignment between the organization’s overall objectives and the process that’s being improved upon. You should also ensure that the new process can evolve fluidly with business strategy and that it offers numerous opportunities for decision makers to track progress toward major goals. As you can see, this type of thinking on process improvement leaves little room for the silo mentality. As Digital Clarity Group analyst Connie Moore succinctly put it while at Forrester: “While it’s possible to tackle projects within a single business function, usually high-value business processes belong with a larger, cross-functional way of working. Getting organizations to overlay their functional thinking and org charts with a process mindset is a challenge that often requires prying 100 years of crusted-over work patterns and practices from executives who have never imagined any other way.” So yes, if you want your process to have a larger impact, you have to talk to people outside your department. How should the new business process be designed? This is where business process modeling, otherwise known as BPM, comes into play. According to Creately.com, BPM is a mechanism for describing and communicating the current or intended future state of a business process. It’s a means of representing the steps, participants, and decision logic in business processes. By doing this in a formal way, you enable solid analysis and further improvement of these processes. BPM is commonly a diagram representing a sequence of activities. This diagram shows events, actions and links or connection points, in the sequence from end to end. It’s often cross-functional, including both IT and people processes and combining the work and documentation of multiple groups in the organization. People, teams, and departments feature in BPM in terms of what they do, to what, when, and for what reasons â€" especially when different possibilities or options exist. BPM software is often used to apply its methods more efficiently. For the rest of this post, head over to the QuickBase blog.

Four Tips For Moms Returning To Work

Four Tips For Moms Returning To Work Mothers who have been out of the workforce for a few years often find it difficult to return. Years spent as a stay-at-home mom can count against women as they try to get back into full-time work. If you are a stay-at-home mom who has been out of the workforce for some time, here are four helpful tips for returning to work. 1. Craft Your Resume The first task on your list is to create a new resume. Be sure that you highlight all of the volunteer tasks that you might have undertaken while you were a stay-at-home mom. Being part of the PTA or being a scout leader both involve organizational, administrative, and people skills. Freelance work is another good area to highlight. It not only shows that you are serious about your career, it shows that you are a self-starter. You should also make sure to include any continuing education you have participated in while you were away from the workforce. If you haven’t done this, it’s a smart idea to become familiar with new office technologies and software. Only include the information that is relevant to the job you want. This will keep your resume looking professional. 2. Finding Job Listings Finding appropriate job listings is tricky for the mom returning to the workforce. This is the time to call in all of your connections. Ask your friends who are in the workforce if they know of any companies nearby that are hiring. Using personal connections often works better than sending resumes through an online site. You can and should use these sites to find job listings, but supplement them with leg work. You may want to start with a temporary job just to get your feet wet. Temporary jobs can also help you try on careers and see which kind of job is a good fit for you. You might have completely different interests than you had before you left the workforce. 3. The Job Interview You may be nervous at your first job interview. It’s understandable that some women will feel judged for staying out of the workforce for so long. Before you get out there, you’ll need to figure out what to wear to a job interview. It’s likely that your professional clothes are outdated or worn. The general rule of dressing for a job interview is that you should dress for the job you want. Being more formally dressed than the office normally calls for is fine, as long as you don’t go over the line into evening wear. A nice dress and blazer, or slacks with a blouse and jacket could be great choices for you. Whatever you choose to wear, make sure it is clean, neat, and pressed. 4. Daycare If your children are young enough, you’ll have to find proper daycare for them. Searching for daycare is a huge task by itself. When you are interviewing new day care providers, make sure you have fully researched the center and its qualifications. If you are interviewing a home daycare provider, do your interview with the same amount of care. It’s wise to get your children used to daycare before you start back at work. The double transition of beginning day care plus your first few days at the office may be extremely stressful. Returning to Work Finding a new job could be a long process. Be patient and open-minded about the job you want. When you are professionally fulfilled, you will be a happier person and a better mom. Your kids will come to know the value of work. They will be fine in their new day care or school environment. You will be able to feel that you are contributing financially to your family. This guest post was authored by Lindsay Patterson Lindsey Patterson is a freelance writer and entrepreneur who specializes in business technology, customer relationship management, and lead management. She also writes about the latest social trends, specifically involving social media.  

How to Tame Employee Turnover

How to Tame Employee Turnover Job hopping is now more prevalent than in the past and its not uncommon for people to change jobs frequently throughout their career. Though its common practice and can actually be beneficial to the candidate to gain experience in a number of different areas and workplaces; it can have negative implications for the growth and success of the company. The most common reason for  moving jobs is to progress in their career, however this could be prevented if they were presented with the opportunity to advance within their existing company. So what can employers do to keep hold of their staff? LinkedIn conducted a study investigating the reasons that professionals leave a job and here are their key findings. What industries are effected the most by employee turnover? Professionals working in the retail and consumer industry are most likely the change jobs frequently. The Government, education and non-profit industries have the second  highest level of employee turnover. I third place is professional services. What are the main reasons people change jobs? The top reason for leaving a job is to find a better work-life balance. An interest in another industry is also a key factor that can lead to someone finding a new job. A  higher salary or better benefits can often entice someone to take a new job. People are more open to hearing about opportunities  The number of active job seekers is rising, but passive talent are also more open to considering a new role. What can employers do to retain staff? Understand that professionals want the opportunity for advancement in their career, so create room for progression within the company. Ensure that staff are receiving the salary and benefits that they deserve. Recognise hard work and employee achievements. Employee recognition schemes can prove effective for employee retention and engagement. Could this work? 42% of recent job switchers say they may have stayed if their employer had done something to improve their experience in the company. 63% of these were males, 37% were female. 43% of them were passive candidates. Taming Employee Turnover | INFOGRAPHIC from LinkedIn Talent Solutions

Everyone has something to offer, no matter how little experience you have

Everyone has something to offer, no matter how little experience you have One of the most difficult parts of making the transition from college to work is waking up every morning and getting to the office on time. After you have mastered that, the next most difficult thing is the what am I doing here? problem. This problem has two scenarios. The first is you have the dumbest job in the whole world and you have idiots telling you how to do idiot work. In this case, you probably have fantasies of the second scenario, in which you have the perfect job and are surrounded by geniuses doing very important work. But what if you are, indeed, surrounded by geniuses and important assignments? Often, people with little work experience feel stupid at work. And rightly so. Everyone has to teach them what to do. But the problem is that if you show that you feel stupid then no one will want to work with you. After all, the geniuses hired you thinking they could teach you quickly to add value. So be the person they thought they hired. Stop feeling stupid and focus on ways you can add value even if you dont know anything: Show potential. That excites people. They hired you for your ability to learn and they knew theyd have to train you. Let them know youre on the right track: Dress right. Say the right things. Show up to meetings on time. Dont be uptight. People will excuse that you dont know a lot because its exciting to be the one to teach an up and comer. Ask good questions. You might not have all the answers, but you can help narrow in on good answers by asking insightful questions. An ex-boyfriend, (who was actually a better catch than I had realized at the time,) once told me, There are no right answers, just sharper questions. Dont try to be something youre not. Its OK if you are at a client meeting and have only one or two things to say. The client knows that she has 15 years of experience in her business and you have 15 minutes. But if youre invited, ask questions so that she knows youre engaged and interested and she can get a sense of how you think. Compensate for your boss in small but significant ways. Think about the personality traits you have and your boss doesnt. Are you good with details? Someone who isnt will appreciate that you are. Are you good at small talk? Show that skill at an office get-together, and your social dolt of a boss will appreciate you. Pay attention, and use slow times for synthesizing. You have time on your side. Older people have kids, mortgages and sick parents. Its likely you have none of those, which gives you lots of time to think. Creative solutions dont come when youre slogging though meetings or endless in-boxes. The new ideas come during quiet, unstructured time. Gain an edge by giving yourself these moments you might come up with a truly brilliant idea. For some, this pep talk wont put a dent in the nervousness you feel around bigwigs. Take solace in the fact that smart people have such a huge need to be right and add value that they sometimes never shut up. Marshall Goldsmith, an executive coach and a founder of Alliance for Strategic Leadership cites the example of an ex-director of the consulting firm McKinsey Co., who constantly added to other peoples ideas, as in, Thats a good idea, but it might work better if People like that director are better off keeping quiet, says Goldsmith. Not every idea needs to be improved 5%. So for those of you newbies working with geniuses who always need to say one more thing, recognize that sometimes these brainacs just like to hear themselves talk. The ability to see through such chatter is something you bring to the table.

Resume Writing For Customer Service Jobs - Should You Include Your Education?

Resume Writing For Customer Service Jobs - Should You Include Your Education?There are many differences between resume writing for customer service jobs and resume writing for Sales and Marketing jobs. To be successful in a sales role or any other kind of position, you will need to have the right skills and resources to help you succeed. Not having this can hurt your chances of landing a job in that field.The resume for customer service jobs, like all resumes, should include your best work experience. Many companies require this.You should begin with a section that discusses your work history. This section should contain a brief summary of each job position that you've held. Include any special skills or training that you've received. It is important to state these in this section, as you can change your placement on your resume.You should then write a paragraph about your next position. A short paragraph to discuss your future goals. You should include your skills and strengths, but also include any skills and education that you plan to further pursue. You should highlight any credentials that you obtained that relate to a career in a customer service field.In resume writing for customer service jobs, you should discuss your most recent position at length. Just as with Sales and Marketing, it is good to include this section at the end of your resume. The difference between the two sections is that in Sales and Marketing you will also include education and certifications. For a customer service resume, you may not mention your certifications.After this, you should include your education and certifications on your resume. You should also mention the education you completed that relate to a customer service field. If possible, list the certification or degree that you earned and include it in the 'Education' area of your resume.Finally, you should write a section called your Personal Statement. The Personal Statement is where you can highlight your qualifications that you possess and why you believe you will be a great fit for the job you are applying for. In the case of a customer service resume, you should briefly mention the qualities that you would like to see in a customer service professional.Writing a resume for customer service jobs is similar to writing one for Sales and Marketing positions. You must have a detailed resume for each job you apply for. By carefully outlining your qualifications and employment experience, you increase your chances of being hired.

The Daily show - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

The Daily show - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Thanks to an entry on Boingboing, I just discovered that Comedy Central has 100s of clips from the Daily Show online. Here are a few of my favourites: Jon Stewart on conventional wisdom Gay marriage and box turtles Kermit the Frog Kevin Spacey Tracey Ullman I would just like to add that Jon Stewart is a very funny man. 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

5 Steps to Landing the Right Job for You - CareerAlley

5 Steps to Landing the Right Job for You - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Most of us spend more time working at a job than looking for one, so when it comes time to embark on a job hunt, you may feel a little rusty and out of practice. On top of that, many people are anxious about their future. How long will they be out of a job? What will happen to them next? You can regain control over the job hunt by keeping it simple. There are really just 5 basic steps to job search success, so take a look at them one at a time. Check out those steps below as well as how you can excel at each of them. Suggested Reading:Life Coaching: 7 Essential Lessons for Life and Career Coaching! Step 1: Define Your Career Objective. Many job hunters, particularly those people who have just lost their job, dont take the time to complete this step. But doing so can help to better ensure that you dont find yourself in this position again. You dont want just any job (even if it might feel like you do!). You want a job for the long-term. That means finding one thats the right fit for your skills, personality, and needs. How to Master This Step: Youre already ahead of most people by actually taking this step, but the next most important thing is to be realistic. Setting an objective that isnt attainable will hurt your job hunt, not help it. If you were let go from a previous position, think about the reasons why. Did you lack the right skills for the position? Was your personality a mismatch for the company? Or is your industry on the decline? A career assessment test can help you gain more insight on the right type of work for you. Step 2: Prepare Your Resume. Whip out an old draft to edit or start fresh. Your resume is often the first thing that potential employers will see, so its a crucial step in the job hunt. And you need an updated resume before you can even begin doing anything else. How to Master This Step: Your goal isnt to detail every single responsibility or accomplishment youve had in your career so far. Its to highlight your most relevant and impressive qualifications. Make sure the resume presents a strong case that youre the right candidate for whatever job youre applying for. Also, dont stop with the [easyazon_link asin=1440562199 locale=US new_window=default nofollow=default tag=caree07-20 add_to_cart=default cloaking=default localization=default popups=default]resume[/easyazon_link]. Create a strong cover letter that you can easily customize for different positions, gather references and letters of recommendation, and set up a[easyazon_link asin=1492291137 locale=US new_window=default nofollow=default tag=caree07-20 add_to_cart=default cloaking=default localization=default popups=default]LinkedIn profile[/easyazon_link] if you dont have one already. And above all, proofread. Step 3: Search for Job Openings. Now that you have your resume ready, its time to find places to submit it. This step includes setting up job searches online, letting people know that youre looking, and directly contacting companies where you want to work. How to Master This Step: When it comes to the online job hunt, you want to find as many relevant job openings as possible. That means casting a wide net that reaches as many websites as possible, but also setting narrow enough criteria that it returns jobs that you want to apply for. Industry-specific sites, such as CareersInGovernment.com and HealthJobsUSA.com, are great resources, as well as job search engines that allow you to focus on a particular location. For instance, this JobTonic sub-site allows you to search for job openings in Dallas, TX across multiple job posting sites, saving you from having to check each one individually. As for the offline job hunt, dont be afraid to get in touch with people you havent connected with in a while. Many people are reluctant to be a bother, but the truth is that most of your contacts are more than willing to spare a few minutes to offer you some career guidance or advice. At the same time, youre making them aware that youre looking and what your credentials are. Step 4: Expand Your Network. Whats perhaps the single most important thing that can help you to get a job? Who you know. Now, that doesnt mean you have to be related to or best friends with someone at the company, but if you can find some sort of connection even a minor one its a plus in your hire me column. So check to see who you might know already (know can be a loose term) and find ways to put yourself out there and meet people in the industry or company that interests you. How to Master This Step: Think outside the box: strike up a conversation with your mailman or the barista at Starbucks. You never know who will know someone worth meeting. When you do make a connection whether at the supermarket or a jobs event follow up. Even if they didnt seem like they could offer any help, reach out. Or better yet, offer to be on the lookout for them if needed. Step 5: Interview. Some people feel like theyve already got the job by the time they get to the interview stage, but while its true that they wouldnt be bringing you in unless they already liked you, theres every chance in the world that they feel that way about several other candidates, too. Make sure youre calm, cool, confident, prepared, and perhaps above all friendly and personable. How to Master This Step:[easyazon_link asin=0470457414 locale=US new_window=default nofollow=default tag=caree07-20 add_to_cart=default cloaking=default localization=default popups=default]Research the company[/easyazon_link] and position for which you are interviewing so that you can speak intelligently about it during your interview. If possible, try to meet with people you know at the company ahead of time to get the inside scoop about the culture and possibly even the person who will be interviewing you. And dont be afraid to practice with common interview questions. You can find plenty of material out there online, and lots of companies today even make apps to help you practice your interview. Career Tip of the Day:Planning for Your Job Search Lesson 1 We are always eager to hear from our readers. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions regarding CareerAlley content. Good luck in your search,Joey Google+ //