Are You Manager or Leader?

In your interactions with team members, do you act mainly as a manager or as a leader? The question may seem like splitting hairs, but it's not. Although the terms are often used synonymously, they represent two very different approaches to the supervision of personnel and projects.

A manager is typically someone in charge of a set of tasks or a group of people, while a leader's job is to guide or influence people to achieve a shared goal. Managers maintain the status quo; leaders inspire employees toward higher levels of accomplishment. Management includes duties such as organizing and coordinating, whereas leadership goes beyond these functions to communicate a vision. Management is concerned with the day-to-day; leadership is about the big picture and the future.

Where would you say you fall in this divide? Are you primarily a manager focused on coordinating your team's activities? Or are you a leader, guiding team members not only to fulfill their responsibilities and accomplish the company's objectives but also to achieve professional growth?

Although it's important to have key managerial skills, it's more critical for your long-term career prospects to maximize your leadership potential. Wherever you fall on the spectrum, here are some tips to help you develop your ability to guide, inspire and positively influence your workers.

Share your vision
It's no surprise that when people think their jobs are important, they tend to be more productive and engaged. An oft-quoted example is Southwest Airlines, where employees are encouraged to think of the company as a customer-service business that happens to fly airplanes. This simple vision helps employees see their work as meaningful.

As a leader, share your vision with your staff members by creating messages that will help employees understand your company's mission and the part they play in it.

Get out of the way
We think of a leader as the person out in front of everyone else -- the head of the group. But in the workplace, some of the most effective leaders are those who stay "off-camera," like the director of a movie. These individuals provide ongoing guidance and feedback but allow employees to find their own best ways to perform their work. As a leader, avoid getting caught up in the "how" of what your team is doing. Instead, keep yourself and everyone else focused on the "why."

Give others room to shine
Great leaders inspire others by giving them a chance to showcase their talents and knowledge. When difficulties occur with project management or workflow processes, for example, ask your team for solutions and alternatives. Your employees are your greatest resource -- don't hesitate to tap them for ideas. You'll build their confidence, increase their engagement and demonstrate that you value their professional expertise.

Learn from your mistakes
As a leader, don't expect to be perfect, and don't be afraid to admit when you're wrong. Find the lesson in every mistake you make. Your open-mindedness and willingness to adjust your approach will set a positive example for your employees to follow.

One of the best ways to develop your abilities as a leader is to observe colleagues who you think inspire their teams. Pay attention to how they interact with employees and how they conduct themselves in a variety of business situations.

Robert Half International is the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm with a global network of more than 350 offices worldwide. For more information about our professional services, please visit http://www.roberthalf.com/ or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/roberthalf.

Rest your Mind: Did You Know? How Much Do Animals Sleep

Did You know??

How Much Do Animals Sleep?

Most animals have a daily pattern of rest and activity. Some animals are more active during the day (diurnal) and some are more active during the night (nocturnal). How much time do animals spend sleeping? Well, it depends on the animal:

Species	Average Total Sleep Time (% of 24 hr)	Average Total Sleep Time (Hours/day)
Brown Bat	82.9%	19.9 hr
Giant Armadillo	75.4%	18.1 hr
North American Opossum	75%	18 hr
Python	75%	18 hr
Owl Monkey	70.8%	17.0 hr
Human (infant)	66.7%	16 hr
Tiger	65.8%	15.8 hr
Tree shrew	65.8%	15.8 hr
Squirrel	62%	14.9 hr
Western Toad	60.8%	14.6 hr
Ferret	60.4%	14.5 hr
Three-toed Sloth	60%	14.4 hr
Golden Hamster	59.6%	14.3 hr
Platypus	58.3%	14.0 hr
Lion	56.3%	13.5 hr
Gerbil	54.4%	13.1 hr
Rat	52.4%	12.6 hr
Cat	50.6%	12.1 hr
Cheetah	50.6%	12.1 hr
Mouse	50.3%	12.1 hr
Rhesus Monkey	49.2%	11.8 hr
Rabbit	47.5%	11.4 hr
Jaguar	45%	10.8 hr
Duck	45%	10.8 hr
Dog	44.3%	10.6 hr
Bottle-nosed dolphin	43.3%	10.4 hr
Star-nosed Mole	42.9%	10.3 hr
Baboon	42.9%	10.3 hr
European Hedgehog	42.2%	10.1 hr
Squirrel Monkey	41.3%	9.9 hr
Chimpanzee	40.4%	9.7 hr
Guinea Pig	39.2%	9.4 hr
Human (adult)	33.3%	8 hr
Pig	32.6%	7.8 hr
Guppy (fish)	29.1%	7 hr
Gray Seal	25.8%	6.2 hr
Human (elderly)	22.9%	5.5 hr
Goat	22.1%	5.3 hr
Cow	16.4%	3.9 hr
Asiatic Elephant	16.4%	3.9 hr
Sheep	16%	3.8 hr
African Elephant	13.8%	3.3 hr
Donkey	13.0%	3.1 hr
Horse	12.0%	2.9 hr
Giraffe	7.9%	1.9 hr

References: This table was adapted from four sources:

1. Aserinsky, E., Eyelid condition at birth: relationship to adult mammalian sleep-waking patterns, In Rapid Eye Movement Sleep, edited by B.N. Mallick and S. Inoue, Narosa Publishing, New Delhi, 1999, p. 7.
2. Campbell, S.S. and Tobler, I., Animal sleep: a review of sleep duration across phylogeny. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Rev., 8:269-300, 1984.
3. Kryger, M.H., Roth, T. and Dement, W.C., Principles and Practice of Sleep Medicine, W.B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia, 1989, pp. 39-41.
4. Tobler, I., Napping and polyphasic sleep in mammals, In Sleep and Alertness: Chronobiological, Behavioral and Medical Aspects of Napping, edited by D.F. Dinges and R.J. Broughton, Raven Press, New York, 1989, pp. 9-31.

tips: How To Manage Your Boss

How to manage your boss

by Vaninna Tenorio-Davidon

Your relationship with your boss can have a lot to do with whether you view your work as a blessing or a burden. If you’ve had to add “difficult boss” to your already full plate of worries, you may need to learn better ways to get along with your superior. Learn to manage upward, and you’ll have greater chances of keeping your job-and saving your sanity-no matter what kind of boss you get saddled with.

1. Accept reality. Given the chance, you might elect for a different boss. But the fact is, you’re stuck with your present superior whether you like it or not. Fighting reality-and your boss-will only make things worse for you. Acknowledging facts can hopefully clear your mind, allowing you to find more positive ways to deal with the situation.
2. Turn inward. You may need to look in the mirror and reflect on your own motives and motivation. Are you being fair to your boss, or sour-graping because you feel you should be in his or her position? You yourself may be adding to the tension in your relationship. By striving for objectivity, you might find that you can actually get along with your supervisor quite well.
3. People won’t change. Bear in mind that you cannot force others to change their attitude just to make you feel better. The only person you can control is yourself. By changing the way you respond and react, you may just have a better relationship with your boss than you ever thought possible.
4. Keep your emotions in check. You don’t have to be buddy-buddy with your manager, but you do have to maintain a professional, respectful relationship. This means too that you do not grouse to anyone who cares to listen just what a beast your boss is-it’s bound to reach him or her, with dire consequences for you! Instead, try discussing with a trusted friend about what coping strategy will work best with your boss.

sources: jobstreet com

Tips: Code Dress For Interview

 

Let's say you are going for an interview tomorrow. You have prepared yourself well for the occasion - anticipating the questions and getting ready the answers - but have you given a thought to what you will wear?

If you have not peeked into your wardrobe yet, it's time to take a real hard look now. Your application's fate depends not just on how well you answer the interview questions, but also on how well you project yourself physically.

The first impression your interviewer makes about you is based on the way you look, and you know what they say about first impressions. According to Joe Hodowanes, J.M. Wanes and Associates career strategy advisor, "The way a person dresses is the single biggest non-verbal communication you make about yourself."

The right dressing is a measure of the seriousness that you place on the position, as a person normally spends time on his looks if he considers an event important enough.

"Although proper dressing by itself will not get you the job, a poor dress sense may exclude you from further consideration," warns Gerry Ditching, managing partner of Filgifts.com. Besides, given two equally good applicants, the company may choose to hire the person who is dressed more professionally.

Here are some tips to give you a headstart.

Men

Long-sleeved shirt and dark slacks. White is still the safest and the best color for shirts. The colour is also appropriate for our tropical weather. Also acceptable: pale shades such as beige, blue, and other pastels. Tuck in the shirt and do not roll up the sleeves. Never wear a short-sleeved shirt to an interview or any business purpose. Wearing a short-sleeved shirt will destroy your executive image.

Ties. Optional. But if you do wear one, choose a conservative pattern. Solids, small polka dots, diagonal stripes, small repeating shapes, subtle plaids and paisleys are all acceptable.

Belts. Belts should match your shoes. Those with smaller buckles with squared lines look more professional.

Socks. Black socks are the best, followed by blue or gray, depending on your attire. Never wear white socks! Check your sock length, too--no skin should show when you sit down or cross your legs.

Shoes. Black or burgundy leather shoes with laces on them, because tassel loafers are very casual. Other suitable colors are brown, cordovan and navy.

Hair. Keep neat, short and preferably parted on the side. And shave off all those facial hair.

Jewellery. Wear no or little jewellery. The watch and wedding ring are the only acceptable pieces of jewellery to go with the male attire. Thin gold or leather-strapped watches look professional but not digital watches. Also, avoid political or religious insignias, necklaces or bracelets. Definitely no pierced body parts, and cover up your tattoos!

Accessories. As much as possible, use leather briefcases or folders to hold copies of your resume. Use narrow briefcases and avoid plastic folders and plastic ball pens as they are out of place.

Women

Three-piece business suits, blouse and skirt or slacks, and cardigan twin-sets. Sleeveless shirts should be rejected. Short-sleeved blouses are okay when they are tailor-cut or have features such as a sports collar or double breast design to create a business-like look. Skirts can either be long provided it does not create a Cinderella or barn-dance look or short where it falls no shorter than two inches from the knee. Nothing too revealing, please!

Panty-hose or stockings. A must for professional grooming, but nothing with overly fussy patterns. Bring an extra pair, just in case the ones you are wearing run.

Shoes. Closed shoes or pumps with at least 1½-inch heels suggest a more professional look. Dark colors are best.

Hair. Hair longer than shoulder length should be worn up or pulled back. Don't let it fall in front of your face and don't keep trying to fix it during the interview. Avoid large hair ornaments and trendy hairstyles.

Make-up. Be subtle; natural is the key word. Light shades of lip coloring and nail polish are recommended."

Jewellery. Be conservative. Studs of gold, silver or pearls are best. Do away with gaudy fashion jewellery, and those that clank and make noise when one moves.

Accessories. Folders and bags should blend well with the total professional look. Women should match their purse with their shoe colour.

Sources: Job street .com

Interview tips: Making a great first impression

It’s said that body language makes the biggest impact on the meaning of the message, followed by the tone of voice, and finally, by the words itself. This holds true particularly in the interview, where the first few minutes you spend with a potential employer can spell the success or failure of your application. If this were not so, employers would be hiring applicants merely on the strength of their resumes or test results. It’s thus vital to make a favorable first impression. To do that: 

Be punctual.
You might as well kiss the job goodbye if you come in late for the interview, clothes drenched in sweat and hair sticking out in different places. Give extra time for traffic, parking, bad weather and slow elevators. However, if you’re 15 to 20 minutes ahead of schedule, don’t go straight to the reception lady to announce your presence-this might put undue pressure on the interviewer. Instead, catch your breath and freshen up in the restroom, or get some coffee at the cafeteria. 

Tips: Best 10 Tips For Job Hunting Online

Best 10 tips for job-hunting online

1. Search every day. New positions are uploaded on job sites like JobStreet.com daily, and being the first to respond has its advantages. But don’t ignore old postings, either. Some dated postings may be hard-to-fill jobs that you could be qualified for.
2. Do online research too. Complement your online search by finding out more about the companies you’re applying with. The information you gain can be helpful when you’re called to interview.
3. Make your resume acceptable online. Many companies ask applicants to submit an electronically formatted resume by providing an online form. Be sure to fill in all the required blanks. Without the information he needs, an employer is less likely to take your application seriously.
4. Use key words. Since a single ad can receive numerous applications, some employers activate an automated screening system to weed out unqualified applicants and save time. Be sure to put in relevant key words to raise your chances of getting pass these filters.
5. Use the cut-and-paste format. It’s better to send a resume (in plain text format) as part of the message body. With viruses crawling all over cyberspace, most employers have second thoughts about opening attachments.
6. Focus your search. Don’t submit resumes for different positions with one employer. Worse, don’t blast copies of a general resume to as many firms as possible. Target your job hunting: Be sure you meet the job’s requirements and that you customize resume contents to the particular position.
7. Avoid using office facilities. Remember that employers have the means to track Internet use. You may be violating your employer’s computer and Internet acceptable use policy and revealing to them that you are job hunting. Neither should you job-hunt during office hours, even if it’s lunch break.
8. Protect your privacy. Don’t be so ready to provide your landline, social security number, tax identification number and other sensitive details in your resume. Such information can fall into the hands of unscrupulous persons. Read a job site’s privacy policy to know exactly what it does with applicants’ personal information.
9. Make a good first impression. Be professional: Don’t send a resume that’s hard on the eye or use a cute, weird or funny e-mail address.
10. Don’t just wait. Searching online is undeniably fast and easy, but it doesn’t guarantee you a job. As with traditional job hunting, you still need to work hard to stand above the competition. This means being proactive and following up on your application to catch the employer’s attention.
    
    
    sources: Jobstreet.com

Tips: Interview Questions – Managing Bad Interview Questions

Interview Questions

Who has not felt nervous during an interview? Sometimes an applicant can become so anxious about giving the right answer that he does not realise that he is being asked the wrong question. 

Illegal interview questions are queries that a person may refuse to answer as they violate his rights as an applicant. In fact, in the United States, some states allow a person to sue an interviewer for asking such questions. 

But with jobs scarce to come by on the local market, it may be more prudent to think of how best to answer brash questions than to reject them outright. It may be that these “unethical” questions are being asked to determine if an applicant meets specific requirements for the position. 

Illegal questions?
The following are some questions that the employer need not ask but may do so occasionally:

• Questions about one’s origins. These may include citizenship issues. They may be applicable if the position will require travel to different areas. The interviewer may be interested to know if you can speak a particular dialect.
• Questions concerning one’s marital/family status or relationships. These include those about your civil status - if you are married with children, or are a single parent, or have a boyfriend or a girlfriend. Normally, questions of this nature are intended to check out the applicant’s capacity to work long hours or do overtime work.
• Questions concerning one’s personal attributes and background such as height, weight, likes, etc. Again, such queries need not be asked unless relevant. Some jobs obviously have special requirements, such as height for a basketball player. Or you may be asked your musical preferences if you are applying with an audio store.
• Questions regarding one’s disabilities. As with personal questions, these may be asked with tact and only if necessary. Candidates for pilots, for instance, have to have 20/20 vision.
• Questions regarding one’s social standing including any arrest record. This information need not be asked as it should already be included in the requirements requested.
• Questions about one’s religious affiliation or beliefs. To discriminate against one’s religion is against the law and related questions should not be asked.
• Questions concerning one’s age. Information on age should be available in your resume and need not be asked.

Focus on the real issue
If you are thrown such posers, you could opt to give them the benefit of the doubt: The employer may not be aware that they are inappropriate. According to HR manager Jig Blanco-Yan: “These interviewers might not be aware that they’re asking sensitive questions. Chances are, they want to hear something and sometimes, they get too carried away to notice the discomfort of the interviewees.”

Rather than telling the employer that you are not comfortable with the questions and that you feel they are irrelevant, try to determine first the intent of the interviewer, the purpose behind the question, then answer in relation to the responsibilities of the job.

For example, if you are queried about children, the interviewer may want to know if you can work long hours away from home if necessary. A good answer is to say that if there is a need to work extra hours, you would be available. Misty, an HR applicant, was once asked by an employer if she had a boyfriend, and she replied with an assurance that she was willing to do overtime work if needed. “I simply assumed that there was no malice or hidden motive behind the question. I didn’t want to react in a negative manner as I was really keen on getting that position.”

In some cases, an interviewer may ask this type of questioning believing it would put the interviewee at ease. Instead of starting the interview on a serious note, the interviewer may pose light and personal questions first to break the ice. Again, it is up to the jobseeker to phrase his or her answers in such a way as to show that he or she is a professional who will be an asset to the company if hired.

by Neil Palabrica 

sources: Jobstreets.com

Artikel: Amalan positif bagi meningkatkan kemajuan diri dan minda

1.    Sentiasa amalkan sikap ingin belajar

Setiap peristiwa dalam hidup memberi peluang kepada kita untuk mempelajari sesuatu yang baru atau mengukuhkan perkara yang telah kita ketahui. Dalam setiap keadaan, sama ada yang menyenangkan atau kurang menyenangkan, ada sesuatu yang dapat kita pelajari. Semua ini mengayakan diri kita dengan pengalaman untuk menjalani kualiti kehidupan yang lebih baik.

2. Hadapi segala cabaran dalam hidup tanpa menyalahgunakan alkohol, dadah dan perangsang yang lain.

Kecuali untuk tujuan perubatan, penggunaan `sokongan palsu' semua di atas perlu dielakkan. hadapi segala-galanya dengan minda positif dan perkuatkan diri. Selagi bahan-bahan tersebut digunakan, selagi itulah kita tidak belajar menjadi positif.

3. Sedari bahawa kapasiti mental adalah begitu besar dan di luar imaginasi kita.

berhenti meletakkan halangan kepada kapasiti minda dan kapasiti diri sendiri. Tidak ada sebarang perkara pun yang mustahil selagi kita benarkan diri kita menghadapinya. beri matlamat kepada diri untuk mencapai sesuatu dan berikan tempoh perkara tersebut mahu dicapai. Tumpukan segala perhatian dan anda sendiri akan hairan dan kagum dengan keputusannya.

4. Sentiasa bercakap dengan diri sendiri secara positif.

Kita seringkali sibuk bercakap dengan orang lain sehinggakan lupa bercakap dengan diri sendiri. perbualan diri bukan untuk mengeluh tentang nasib malang atau kecelakaan yang menimpa diri tetapi dijuruskan kepada perbualan positif. Ajak diri sendiri menuju kejayaan. Berilah semangat kepada diri sendiri. Anggapkan segala perkara negatif sebagai halangan sementara yang dapat diatasi untuk mengecapi kejayaan.

5. Sentiasa bersikap menerajui diri tentang kesihatan diri.

Ramai yang amat teliti dengan barang-barang kepunyaan mereka dan mereka sentiasa berhati-hati menjaga supaya barang0-barang tersebut digunakan dengan baik dan tidak rosak. Malangnya, perhatian yang serius tidak diberikan kepada `barang' kepunyaan yang paling berharga iaitu badan sendiri. Sayangilah diri sendiri dengan memastikan kesihatan diri sentiasa terpelihara.

Lakukan aktiviti fizikal seperti senaman dan kawal pemakanan untuk memastikan kesejahteraan diri.

6. Sentiasa menimba ilmu.

Ilmu ialah kuasa. seseorang yang menerajui diri mempunyai ilmu pengetahuan yang luas bukan sahaja tentang kerjayanya, malah fenomena yang berlaku di sekelilingnya. Sikap rajin membaca dan ingin tahu akan membantu kita menimba ilmu yang banyak.

7. Tuliskan perkara-perkara yang mahu dicapai dan letakkan di tempat-tempat yang strategik.

Ini akan mengingatkan diri secara positif untuk mencapai perkara yang diingini itu, setiap kali membacanya. mesej daripada penglihatan akan dihantar ke otak dan pengulangan perkara ini akan terekod di dalam minda. Otak akan sendiri menjana cara untuk mencapai perkara tersebut.

8. Biasakan diri mendengar dan menonton perkara yang membawa perasaan menerajui diri.

Menonton filem-filem yang ceria dan mendengar muzik yang menyeronokkan akan membantu diri berehat sambil mengukuhkan perasaan menerajui diri. Amalan menonton cerita-cerita seram dan menakutkan, cerita-ceria sedih, lagu-lagu sedih atau melankolik secara berlebihan akan membawa pemikiran ke arah membatasi diri.

9. Biasakan diri lebih memuji dan elakkan mengutuk.

Sentiasa pamerkan sikap mesra dengan orang lain dan juga diri sendiri. Elakkan mengkritik orang secara negatif kerana ini menjadi amalan negatif minda. Pujilah orang lain dan berilah pandangan yang positif dengan cara yang positif. kelemahan seseorang yang diberitahu kepadanya dengan cara halus dan teliti akan membolehkan orang tersebut menerimanya dengan hati terbuka dan berterima kasih.

10. Terimalah segala pujian daripada orang lain dengan ucapan terima kasih.

Elakkan daripada terlalu merendah diri keran pelakuan ini jelas kepurapuraan dan negatif. Menerima pujian dengan ucapan terima kasih merupakan satu langkah menjauhkan orang lain yang memberi pujian kepada kita secara sinis untuk tujuan negatif. Terimalah pujian secara positif dan jangan pula bersikap angkuh dan merendahkan diri orang yang memuji kita.