Etchings on the Attic Wall

Highly Effective Work Habits:  10 Things to Never Put on a Resume

If you are currently looking for work, Salary.com recently published an article about what NOT to put on your resume.  These are things that an employer might quickly find on your resume and push it aside without looking at it any further.  Here [...]

Highly Effective Work Habits:  Know When and How to do Research

I can’t imagine too many jobs out there where you haven’t had to do a little research from time to time.  But, how effective are you at it?  Do you stumble around trying to find the answers but don’t have the patience, don’t know [...]

Highly Effective Work Habits:  Leverage Alternative Office Software

Do you use office software on a regular basis, such as word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations?  Who doesn’t, right?  If you work independently and don’t have the cash to spend on an expensive software package, work for a company/department that doesn’t use Windows as the primary OS, [...]

Highly Effective Work Habits:  Know Your Behavioral Style

There is a great program out there called DiSC.  It is designed to help you understand how you behave based upon your style tendencies.  After taking a questionnaire, you’ll know your tendencies, needs, preferred environment, and strategies for how to be most effective.  DiSC is broken down [...]

Highly Effective Work Habits:  Do Your Own Reviews

By this, I mean when it is that time of the year for your workspace review, perform a self-review rather than have someone else do it.  If your department typically does not work this way, suggest it.  I realize this is more work on you, but you [...]

Highly Effective Work Habits:  Keep Track of Your Accomplishments

In many positions out there today, you will often have to multitask amongst several tasks each day.  Over time, it will become more difficult to try and remember what you worked on and how well you did.  It is important to keep track of your accomplishments [...]

Highly Effective Work Habits:  Watch What You Say Around Your Colleagues

Many people make friends on the job.  There is nothing wrong with this at all.  It makes coming to work more enjoyable and helps with team collaboration.  However, you need to continuously sensor yourself and watch what you say, especially if one of your [...]

Highly Effective Work Habits:  Archive Your Emails

Whatever email system you use at work, whether it be Outlook, Lotus Notes, or something else, archiving off your old emails is always a good idea.  The only downside is that, over time, it can take up a lot of space.  My Outlook archive file has been running [...]

Highly Effective Work Habits:  Conquer Fear of Failure
I believe the majority of people have an innate fear of failure.  Nobody wants to fail.  Unfortunately, this often results in under-performing employees.  If you let your fear rule you, you’ll never take risks and achieve results.  A good lesson here is that the best way to learn [...]

Highly Effective Work Habits:  Have a Life Outside of Work
People are far too overworked these days.  This leads to increased stress, lower energy levels, and increased tempers.  At some point, you’ve got to step back and realize that work is not everything.  You have got to strike a good balance between work and your personal/family [...]