Did you graduate and get your first student loan bill and freak out, wondering what on earth you paid all that money for? Yes? Ok, well stop doing that! Going to school you cultivate some valuable life lessons. Correct implementation of these experiences is at the heart of the success sought after in business. The following five habits picked up in school can be modeled and incorporated in just about any role.
Stress and Anxiety Management
School can be stressful especially during the first years. However, as you progress, you learn to handle the stress and anxiety and plan better for any bumps in the road. The ability to manage stress and tension that you learned by juggling coursework and assignments in school can be applied in the business world. Instead of getting stressed out in the first place, tell yourself that you’re just really excited about your work as the first step in managing your work-related stress and anxiety. This way, positivity flows in all you do.
How to Be On Time
Being on time for all of your school activities was a juggle. From class to extra-curricular activities, relationships, partying, to personal downtime. Your time was just limited as it is now, yet, you were able to manage all these activities. As you may recall, planning helped you to be on time and ready for the next item on your to-do-list. Similarly, the same principle required of you in the business world for you to be successful.
How to Work Hard
Looking back at your school life, you will appreciate the value of the effort you put in. Good grades required extra hours of study, research, and sometimes even a little extra help. Effort speaks of hard work. In like manner, the same determination applied in school is one that could apply to you now. Spend more time on researching and studying how best to manage and grow your role or business.
How to Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone
Stagnating or declining business growth is similar to maintaining or dropping grades in school. These aspects point to familiarity in the comfort zone. Taking on new challenges helps break the comfort barriers. It renews your motivation and drives you towards new heights of achievement. As a result, you will learn to be innovative as you get more comfortable with being uncomfortable.
How to Accept Change
Sometimes changes that you went through in school were not the best, yet in all the disappointment, there was some good. For the most part, change is a reality of life that is inevitable. This is why businesses make changes to become better. It may be tough, but it is ultimately in your best interest to embrace changes in your workplace. This way you become more productive, efficient and relevant.
All in all, every stage in life is a learning process, a preparation for what is yet to come. The true value of these lessons is only evident in their implementation in your everyday life. This is why the habits picked up from school will help steer you towards success. And if you need some extra help implementing these things into real life, look into coaching to help better understand how to start succeeding.
Life can be awesome but let’s face it, life is also inevitably stressful. Thee will be occasions, every once in a while, where you will experience a chronic or acute stress. Stress can be helpful for you when coping with a serious situation or threat. However unlike acute stress, chronic stress is a long-term condition which can wreak havoc on your mind and body. We don’t want that to happen, so here is some information to help make sure you know what to do when you are feeling stress.
Brain
Chronic stress can destroy your brain cells. According to Psychiatry Advisor, it also leads to depression and increases the risk of dementia (e.g. Alzheimer’s disease). Depressed people usually have a small hippocampus. Stress can interfere with memory formation in the hippocampus and cause loss of prefrontal cognitive abilities. This can happen to a pregnant woman’s baby. Generalized anxiety can affect functions associated with memory.
Cardiovascular System
High cortisol levels can increase the heart rate, blood pressure, and blood lipid levels. Hypertension puts you at risk for heart attack or stroke. This is especially true if you are experiencing “broken heart syndrome.” Stress hormones contribute to the buildup of abdominal fat, which can give some people an “apple” shape.
Digestive System
Stress hormones have a tendency of slowing gastric juice release and gastric emptying. If you have high cortisol levels, you can get hungry. We know what happens when you are always hungry, you will gain weight. This is really important to know because you can develop Type 2 diabetes under prolonged stress. Stress increases your chance of getting ulcers and cause the malfunctioning of existing ulcers. You can get diarrhea as your colon is stimulated, thanks to the stress hormones. According to The Farber Center, prolonged stress can also lead to teeth grinding or bruxism, can cause dental problems in the long-term, as well as sleep disruption and headaches. Do you want to go into an important meeting feeling this way?
Immune System
Prolonged stress can suppress the immune system, making people more prone to infectious diseases (i.e. flu). Sometimes, stress can make the immune system excessively active instead, leading to autoimmune disease. I’m sure that you have noticed in the past that during times of stress, you tend to get sicker, picking up every little bug and flu going around.
Nervous System
Increased cortisol amounts can make you feel constantly anxious, helpless, and hopeless. These symptoms can be confused with disorders such as anxiety and depression. They can also disturb sleep, take away sex drive, and reduce appetite.
How can you cope with prolonged stress?
Be assertive.
Get comfortable saying No.
Get regular exercise.
Go to bed early.
Improve your diet; eat more fruits and vegetables instead of processed foods.
Developing resilience through healthy coping methods can help you resist the effects of prolonged stress. You can curb the exacerbation of chronic stress by developing ways to successfully manage stress. If negative self-talk is getting in your way, take the Sears Coaching Self-Esteem Challenge to start putting yourself first.
There used to be a time when people would leave a company for another opportunity. They would do so quietly, never uttering a negative comment about the previous employers. Now with the introduction of the Internet, former employees are empowered. They have more outlets than ever to vent or share information about previous employers. Here is how company reviews are highlighting what disgruntled and former employees think of a business.
The more prominent the company is, the more it has to work on its image. A major technology company has an article published on its perks. Some employees at the tech giant say that the company has terrible perks. Employees gripe about issues like no free lunches. Companies can expect that they will be measured by prospective applicants in terms of the perks they offer. Make sure to do market surveys and stay aware of what perks the competition is offering.
Whistleblower retaliation is frowned upon now. Current times welcome transparency. The right to voice disconcerting behaviors is something that employers should be just as invested in protecting. Retaliation is something that employers must have zero tolerance for; it should be viewed as an opportunity to correct the cultural norms and environment that invites the behavior in question. You should be mindful that how whistleblower information is shared is similar to how stories of retaliation efforts are shared. Both make their ways into publications and forums. Companies should take a different approach in addressing the behaviors, such as investigating, correcting, or ending the practices. It is extremely important that you always have a good sense of what is going on in your organization so that you can try to prevent problems and ensure a happy and productive work environment.
Unfair Pay
Unfair pay is another common topic discussed among former employees. People often complain the loudest about unfair pay. They go to popular forums like Glassdoor to air out their grievances. They share their pay information with entities like SalaryWizard to determine what they are making when compared to their peers. The more latitude they have in sharing their salary information openly, the more descriptive they become when highlighting responsibilities and comparing them against job expectations or compensation. Companies like Walmart make the news often, getting bad press for their compensation. Don’t look at this as a negative thing. In my opinion, pay transparency is where every company should strive to get to. If you are compensating your employees fairly, you could post everyone’s pay information on a bulletin board and there would be very few complaints. Pay your people what they are worth based on their experience, what they bring to the table, their performance and what market data dictates. It is worth having someone look at your compensation data and make recommendations to help get your pay practices to be as equitable as possible.
Underappreciation is another issue that former employees are extremely vocal about. They cite the marginal increases in pay in comparison to their contributions and feel underwhelmed by the compensation received. They openly discuss how much more is added to their plate and what more will be expected of them. It isn’t uncommon for employees to gripe about being taken for granted or feeling unrecognized for their efforts. Acknowledgment and compensation are how employees often measure underappreciation. Take a look at what you are doing to show your employees appreciation. Do you say “thank you” often enough? Are you showing gratitude to employees in ways that matter to them? Get to know what makes each person get out of bed each morning and go to work so that you can recognize them in meaningful ways.
Company reviews are showing that employees, especially millennials, value work-life balance. They want to have a schedule that is honored, and many desire to leave the office on time in order to spend time with families. Companies who aren’t that great on work-life balance get poor reviews highlighting that. This makes them less of an attractive employer to prospective applicants. People value being able to have some predictability to their schedule, and don’t want to be connected to a company 24/7. Are you “clock watching” and paying too much attention to time sitting behind a desk rather than results that are achieved?
Businesses have to be mindful of company reviews. These forums are open to anyone. Surveys can be completed by employees at any time, and this allows them the opportunity to share their grievances. Companies can monitor these reviews and learn what they can do to make their companies more inviting to potential candidates. You should also spend time getting ahead of these complaints. Doing Stay Interviews and Engagement Surveys are two quick and easy ways to learn more about what employees are saying about you and to prevent them from becoming former employees.
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Stress can invade all facets of life, especially in your work life. When you feel like things are barreling you over and you are drowning, do you have a go-to method to unwind fast? If you do not immediately think of something zen, then you might need one of the ideas we use to knock out worry and stress. This blog talks about five spectacular ways you can get clarity when you need it the most.
Tai Chi or Yoga
Exercise is a great way to get your body and brain in another gear, but yoga and Tai Chi get your mind away from the day. The focus and concentration that you put into breathing, correct form, and stretching demands your attention, and you forget about everything else. If you are a beginner, then you may want to start with yoga because there are modifications and basic moves that you can use until you get the strength, balance, and flexibility for the advanced and intermediate positions.
Massage
Got knots in your shoulders? Is a headache-free day something you dream about all the time? A massage is a great way to relax after you come home from a long workday. Many spas have evening hours where you can book a half an hour of time to get a Swedish or hot rock massage. Some are soft and relaxing while others are hot or rough like deep tissue massage, which is used for healing sports injuries and sprains from falls, so be sure to get the right one. If you live with someone, then you can give each other shoulder and neck massages to get rid of taut muscles and an achy body. But if you’re alone and don’t want to spend money on routine massage visits, there are roller massagers and other massage toolsthat could help you to get the kinks out at home.
Sensory Deprivation Tanks
Some health and wellness spas offer a unique experience for stress relief. Sensory deprivation rooms are the size of a small bathroom or a little larger depending on the site. Inside you will enter a warm pool of water and float with a blindfold on for about 30 to 90 minutes. When the door is shut to the room, no noise can penetrate because of the soundproof walls. This experience lets your body and mind drift into a deep chasm away from the hustle and bustle of the city, screaming people, honking horns, and other noises.
Meditation
The first thing you need for meditation is a quiet and comfortable space. Choose one thing to think or talk about and focus on only that item. When your mind drifts to other places, do not get angry or tense up. Take a deep breath and regain your concentration on your focal point. Try using a timer to let you know when your session is over so that you do not have to check the clock. Don’t just take my word for it!
Imagination and Visualization Techniques
Visualization involves you getting deep into your mind. You close your eyes and choose a place that you believe is your safe zone. Anywhere, anytime, any person and anything can be in your happy spot. Anything you do not want to be in your happy spot it is also under your control. When you need to clear your head fast, you can take five or ten minutes to close your eyes and concentrate on your happy spot. Think about how it feels like if the wind is blowing or something feels soft or sleek. Smell the air and the scents around you. All of these things will take your mind off from a stressful situation fast.
You can find out more about relaxation exercises here. The goal is to get your mind off from things that stress you out in a healthy manner. Depressive times require a mindful exercise while anxious days are the times when meditation or imagery work best. You can choose the method that suits your situation and switch up the choices to suit your mood. And at the end of the day, remember that even if you cannot release stress on your own, you might have to seek different ways to deal with the issues going on in your work life, such as seeking a coach to help you start organizing where to start.
Prolonged job hunting can take a physical and emotional toll. When faced with rejection after rejection, it is understandable that people may feel hopeless and upset. Many people feel that their job is an important part of their self-worth. They may have allowed themselves to be defined by their profession. Losing a job may mean a crisis of identity and a gradual erosion of self-worth.
Rather than letting the negative emotions take over during a long and arduous search process, change your perspective and look at the bright side of searching for a new job. When you have a positive attitude, you’ll be able to take advantage of all the opportunities coming your way.
It’s important to have the right mindset while searching for a new job. These tips will help you land the new job of your dreams while keeping your self-worth intact.
Create a Personal Brand
A job hunt is a great time to update your profile on networking websites such as LinkedIn. It’s smart to create a complete brand for yourself using your LinkedIn and social media accounts, as well as in your resume. Take the time to think about what makes you unique as an employee. What do you bring to the table that no one else does?
Make sure that all information available to the public on your social media accounts, from photos to status updates and the groups you belong to, are all appropriate in a professional environment. You may feel that your social media accounts are private, but most people have a significant amount of information that is visible to the public. Take the time to search for yourself on Google. You may be surprised at what shows up.
On your résumé, skip listing your personal objectives. Begin instead with a list of your skills and accomplishments. While it has become more acceptable for résumés to take up more than one page, make sure that you are only including relevant information. Be sure that all of your information is accurate and completely proofread.
Make Sure You Retain Structure
When employees are out of work, it’s all too easy to fall into the trap of Netflix binging and sleeping until noon. Treat job hunting as its own “job.” Get up on time and spend time doing concrete tasks that will help you get a job. Attend networking events and call companies for informational interviews. These informal sit-downs will give you an idea of what these companies are looking for and may give you a foot in the door where hiring interviews are concerned.
You may need a break from job-hunting from time to time, and that’s fine. Take a day for yourself and do all of the things you’ve been too busy to accomplish. You can then approach your job hunt fully refreshed and able to show yourself in your best light. If you want some concrete steps to take, sign up for this course to help you with your job search.
Take Advantage of Professional Connections
If you are job-hunting while you are still employed, use your networking connections to their best advantage. If you are a valued employee, your current employer may give you incentives to stay in your current position. Sometimes these offers are good enough to keep you in your current position, and sometimes they are not worth the trouble.
Attend networking events and social functions as much as you can. Get to know the staff at the company you would like to work for.
Contact the Company Offline
While employers are largely focused on accepting résumés online, it’s wise to supplement this contact with offline methods. Call the hiring manager and thank them for taking the time to look at your application. Find any possible connections at the new company and get in touch with them.
Remember That Your Job Is Only Part of your Identity
This tip can be difficult, but it’s important to remember that you are worthy as a person, not only because of your professional accomplishments. It’s hard to keep getting rejected from job opportunities, especially if you have been out of work for a long time and you are suffering financially. Stay in touch with your friends and family and let them remind you that you are more than your job.
The Consequences of Ongoing Job Searches
While job searching holds the potential to be damaging to your self-esteem, consider the positive aspects of the experience. You have the opportunity to start over in a new job, letting go of the preconceptions and defined roles from your previous workplace. The doors of life have swung wide open once again, and all you need to do is find the new path that works for you. When you maintain a positive attitude, it will shine through in your interviews and actually increase the likelihood that you’ll be hired. Your prospective employers will see a productive, helpful person and a good hiring prospect.
Is negative self-talk getting in your way? You know that you can’t be successful with low self-esteem. Let’s fix that! Take the Self-Esteem Challenge today.
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When you are starting a new business, it can seem overwhelming to try and do everything at once. You need to develop your product, hire new employees, get your product out there, start fulfilling client orders, and the list goes on and on. Everywhere you turn, people are telling you that you need to be different, you need to stand out, and you may be afraid that you don’t know how to do this at first. Don’t let that fear keep you from starting. Here are a few things you can do to help get your feet under you.
Learning from the Competition
One of the first ways to devise a business idea is to learn from your competition. While you definitely shouldn’t steal everything from your competitors, it is a good idea to know what they are up to. Find out what they are offering, the prices they are charging, and also how they market their product or service. By finding out these things, you will be in position to learn about your competition and what makes them successful. As a result, you will be more likely to make your idea and business successful as well. You can take their successes and improve on them, and you can avoid their failures.
Using Ideas from Competition
This idea is a little trickier. You never want to copy a competitor exactly, since this edges into intellectual property and legal issues. Instead, you can look at some of the things that they are doing and see how you can add that to your business model. If customers really like something that someone else is doing, you can probably benefit from this too. While these ideas may not be original for you, they can still allow you to apply these concepts for your business. By using ideas from the competition, you can apply some of them to your business.
Other Ways to Take the First Step
Whenever you start a business, it will be important to research properly, design a campaign, and avoid stealing anything. When looking to use proper research, it will be important to find out more about a particular product or service that is currently offered on the market. It will be important to find out about the price range, features and how it is designed. It will also be important to find out about its demand as well. After researching the product and service you plan to provide, it will then be necessary to design a marketing campaign. You will want to use methods such as internet advertising, search engine optimization and also social media. Lastly, you will want to start a business and take that first step by not stealing anything. Some companies will have copyrights, patents, and trademarks on what they sell. It is important not to take those ideas and elements and use them without proper authorization.
Conclusion
Running a business and taking that first step can be quite overwhelming. It can be even more difficult if you are looking to start one with an idea that is not original. While this may be a bit overwhelming, there are ways to make it easier. Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed by expectations and things that you think you need to do. Just take it one step at a time, and eventually, you will achieve what you set out to do.
Relocating your career out of the country can be an excellent way to take advantage of opportunities you would otherwise not have. Not only are there exciting new work possibilities, but the chance to travel the world and learn about other cultures. However, before jumping right into an international move, there are many things to consider:
1. Research Your Destination and Job
This step is paramount in making the decision to move your career. You need to learn about who your new boss and coworkers are going to be and if they are compatible with your style. You must also make sure your destination of choice is a good fit in terms of culture, language, climate, and safety. The last thing that some people would want would be to start working at their dream job and figure out six months later that where they now live has a 7-month rainy season. RESEARCH! If you don’t know where to start, and you want a job with a relocation package, try these listings from Jooble!
2. Visa Challenges
Other governments usually require a passport and a work visa to make a living in their country. Sometimes an employer will apply for a work visa for you, but this is something you must ask about fairly early on in the job interview process. If you need to apply for your own visa, log on to the most relevant government website and start the application process after your job is secure. Don’t rely on someone else to do this for you.
3. How Will You Handle New and Old Property?
Workers who temporarily move out of the country for work may choose to rent their property and home. Not only can you return to it after the job ends, but renting your property can add some extra income while you are away. Consider hiring a property manager to handle landlord responsibilities if you are not able to. Check to see if you can list your place on Airbnb or VRBO.
Don’t forget about thinking about where you will rest your head once you reach your destination. Research the area around your new job; the neighborhood, safety, and comfort. You may need to get in contact with a property manager or realtor fairly early on depending on if you want to rent or buy a place to live.
4. Costs of Moving
Immigration processes can be difficult and costly if you want to take your personal belongings and furniture. Don’t forget to think about things like shipping charges and moving expenses. If it is more financially reasonable, you may want to purchase new furniture when you arrive. Check to see if your employer will cover your moving expenses before you make a final decision.
5. Relocating Your Family
Some people who only immigrate temporarily choose to leave their families behind and visit them periodically. Decide if this is financially and emotionally viable or if it would be better to take your family with you. If you bring your family, you must consider their new placement as well, like where children will go to school or daycare. Your new employer may have resources to help you with these decisions. Got pets? Make sure to find out what the rules on bringing animals into the country you are moving to.
Carefully consider each of these options before making the move to another country. Once you have your ducks in a row, you can enjoy the full range of your new opportunities and have a truly fulfilling career.
Alright, it is time to go to work and really embrace your new position. Being the manager of your new team is surely going to be a bit different than when you managed your local ice cream shop back in college. However, don’t get overwhelmed. You need to appear strong for your team. You are their new leader. If you are able to pull off your new position, you are going to further your career and build a team that will be able to accomplish just about anything. Here are are some tips that will help you in your new quest as an office manager.
Build leadership within your team
The key to having a team that works well together is building leadership within the team. You need to identify those in your team who are natural leaders. If they are willing to take on a leadership role, this will help you with your job. You will feel overwhelmed if you are the only person in your in your department who is a leader. Make sure that you are able to spread your responsibility out through the team.
Make sure safety is key
Your employees need to feel safe when they are coming to work. If people need to work late, onsite security is one safety measure that can give them the peace of mind they need. That onsite security usually takes the form of cameras, but it could also include keys and other passes to ensure only the correct people are entering the building. Fire safety is also something that you should go over with your office. You need to make sure that your employees know what to do during the event of an emergency.
In addition to physical safety, your employees need to know that they are safe to be themselves at work. Make sure that you create an inclusive environment where people can be their true selves at work. It has been proven that diverse teams perform better.
Create a culture of high performance
It is hard to create high performers. However, what you can do is create a culture that rewards these high achievers. Being a leader puts you in a unique position to be able to create any type of culture for your team. If you start rewarding your employees for their high performance, you will notice a significant shift in your team’s productivity.
Make everyone feel included
It is essential that everyone on your team feel included. If you have certain employees struggling to feel like they are really part of the team, work with them to help them feel more included. There are many morale-boosting and team building activities that you can do to make sure that everyone in your office is feeling included.
These are just a few of the many different tips that can help you become a great leader. Remember, it will take time for you to become as awesome in this new position as you were in your previous roles. Be patient and give yourself the time that you need to really excel!
Working from home sounds like a dream. You’re in the comfort of your own home. There’s no boss or anyone else breathing down your back. You can set your hours, and come and go as you please. You’ll need the motivation to work alone, but it’s possible. From freelance writing gigs to setting up a home-based travel business, the internet provides you with a range of opportunities for working from home. The career shift might be a little bit intimidating, but there are plenty of online resources that can help you make the leap if you’re determined to do so.
Work from Home Jobs
Thanks to technology, there are plenty of work-from-home opportunities. Graphic designers, website designers, and writers often work from home. Clerical jobs such as data entry and word processing are usually done from home as well. Some businesses even allow employees to telecommute a few days a week.
Getting Connected
You’ll need to install reliable home internet. It’s practically impossible to work from home without an internet connection. Most correspondence takes place via email, Skype and Facetime meetings are the norm, and every business needs a website. Internet downtime means wasted time and money. Make sure to install reliable home internet as soon as possible. Aside from that, you’re going to want to get connected your team, if you have one.
The Home Office
You can practically use any room for work, depending on the job. And the lack of a home office shouldn’t deter you from working from home. But having said that, it’s true that an office is still important. It provides the privacy you need and allows you to organize. You can connect these to the internet and have some other cable replacements and fixture replacement done as well. The IRS might even give you the home office deduction.
The equipment you need depends on your business. A writer would want things such as a computer and printer. Perhaps a dictionary, additional reference books, and writing utensils. Just make sure your home office is a space for work and nothing else. That will help when it’s time to file taxes.
Productivity
Staying productive is the hardest thing about working from home. There’s nothing to stop you from playing on the internet, watching that daytime talk show, or zoning out. Plus, you might have family members who think working at home means vacation. Set daily and weekly goals to stay motivated. Give yourself a little treat when you achieve your goals. As for family, you need to set boundaries. Explain that you’re working a real job, and can’t be disturbed doing work hours.
Shifting Gears
You’ll have to adjust to being your own boss. There are no co-workers, no one to joke around with, and no cubicle buddy. But you’ll learn that professionalism is still required. Just remember that you’re at work, even when it’s in your home.
Many companies are putting policies and processes in place to help with their diversity and inclusion efforts. For the most part, this is a good thing. Without deliberate effort, companies run the risk of remaining completely stagnant with no new ideas moving them forward and a workforce that looks and acts like a homogenous blog. What are the problems with that? Well, for starters, without people who can bring new and different ideas to the table organizations can’t grow and thrive. The world is changing, why isn’t your company? And don’t get me started on retention. You can hire all the diverse candidates that you want but if your company isn’t welcoming and if there isn’t diversity in your leadership team, you run the risk of having those diverse new hires turn over in droves. For me personally, it is hard to give my all to a company that makes me feel like a token hire or that doesn’t have anyone who looks like me in their C-Suite.
Some companies put different things in place to combat this. A very good friend of mine works for an organization who put a campaign in place to make sure that for every senior leadership role that opened, a diverse slate of candidates needed to be interviewed. Before the position can be filled they have to prove that they interviewed people of different genders, ethnicities, etc. When I heard about it, I thought wow, what a great idea, this initiative will definitely lead to having a more diverse leadership team. After all, they can track the numbers and see how much growth they’ve had in that area over time. Seems like the right thing to do. What could go wrong?
Turns out plenty. When a company rolls out an initiative like this and doesn’t necessarily have the buy-in from the people doing the hiring teams, the leaders and everyone in HR, it may not go well. When the company tracks the numbers, not the experience, all sorts of things can go wrong. My friend is a testament to that. They were invited to interview for a leadership role and based on the feedback that they got during the interview which was that they didn’t have enough experience for the role, they were left feeling like they were just interviewed to check the box of having a diverse slate. They aren’t the only person to have this problem. Someone else who “checks 2 boxes” as a black female, has had multiple interviews but hasn’t been promoted and she isn’t quite sure why. Another woman received feedback that the white male that was hired had more experience than her even though, based on his resume, he absolutely didn’t.
Tracking the numbers may tell you a story that isn’t true. I think that it’s time to start tracking experiences. The best-laid plans may have holes in them that you didn’t see coming. You may get the desired results, more diverse candidate slates, but at what cost? Making people feel like representatives of their gender or race instead of valued employees? My two cents, when something like this is rolled out, follow up and get real feedback on the candidate experience. As an employee going through this process, I can imagine that it would mean a lot to me to have someone reach out to me and ask about how I felt going through the interview process. Gathering this information can also help you determine the level of engagement your leaders have with the process. Doing some digging and getting feedback on the candidate experience can show you what work you may need to do to help advocate for your campaign and teach leaders in your organization the business case for diversity and inclusion.
I’m not saying that tracking numbers is a bad thing, it is important to know if you are moving the needle towards meeting your diversity goals. But you can’t just roll out a program and walk away. You have to check in, you have to have hard conversations, you have to track experiences. Your numbers may say that your initiative is a raging success but the people who are being impacted by it may have a completely different idea about how well things are going. I’m not saying that it will be easy, these may be very difficult conversations to have. You must ensure that the right people are involved or it will turn into yet another check the box activity. You need to have genuine care and concern to show genuine care and concern. A disingenuous focus group is not the way to do this. Detailed one on one conversations with candidates and hiring managers led by someone who is trained to facilitate such discussions is key. View the feedback that you receive as the gift that it is and make any necessary changes. No one wants to feel like they were the token candidate. Well, no one wants to be a token hire either, but we’ll save that for its own blog post.
Take a look at your current diversity programs, campaigns, and initiatives and ask yourself, do I know what it feels like to A-Be in the trenches and comply with these policies and programs and B-Be a diverse person on the receiving end of the policy or program? If you don’t you have some work to do. Time to start tracking experiences.
