There are various reasons why employers hire new employees. Regardless of the reason, many new employees are charged with the responsibility of making the changes necessary to increase the company’s profitability and success. If you’ve recently been hired as a bookkeeper or accountant, you may find yourself in that tricky predicament, one that can make it difficult to accomplish your objectives without first winning colleague support. So how do you move forward and fulfill your job description without stepping on too many toes? Here are six simple steps.

1. Research your new employer
First it’s important to know more about the company and the position you’re walking into. Often you can ask your new employer a few key questions before you start. Is the company currently experiencing success? Are they unsuccessful and looking for ways to change that? What was your predecessor’s temperament and approach? Was it appreciated? How much change is your supervisor expecting you to initiate? How does the staff respond to change? Are your colleagues sophomore or senior employees? The more you know before entering the situation, the better prepared you’ll be to succeed.

2. Determine which colleagues are resistors
Perhaps your supervisor will let you know which coworkers will demonstrate resistance at your proposed changes. If not, you should take some time to determine which, if any, colleagues may prove problematic. Study their demeanor and determine how you might win their support (see below) or at least deter them from causing too many waves.

3. Consider your delivery
The last thing your new colleagues want is a long diatribe on how bad the company was before you arrived and how your arrival marks glorious changes. In her article “How to Earn Support from New Colleagues,” Joan Lublin discusses the importance of dealing with colleagues diplomatically. She quotes Ben Dattner, a New York psychologist, who cautions new employees against being the cocky and bossy newbie. He says, “They push too hard, too fast and do it in a non-diplomatic way.” You need to sit back and get a feel for office dynamics and politics.

4. Find an influential mentor
You can gain support and receive helpful advice from an influential mentor. Find someone within the company who can help you acclimate to your new work environment. This individual should be a knowledgeable employee who is respected by coworkers.

5. Win over coworkers
Once you’ve determined who the resistors are you can start winning them over. Some just need to be involved in order to feel invested in your planned changes and provide their support. You may need to communicate regularly with others while others still may need evidence that the boss has requested you make these changes.

6. Renew your boss’s support
Depending on how things progress, you may request that your boss publicly renew his support of your plans. This may calm the naysayers and remind your colleagues of the company’s intentions to support you in your endeavors.

It is possible to win colleague support in a new work environment. Avoid being pushy or arrogant about your new position; take the time to study your colleagues and your responsibilities before proposing any changes. And as you involve your coworkers you may be surprised at just how quickly you become one of the gang.

References
Lublin, Joann. “How to Earn Support from New Colleagues.” CareerJournal.com.

If It’s Accounting, It’s Universal:

Get to Know More About the Company That Will Change Your Career!

Universal Accounting is a company that is making a difference in the lives of their students! For those who are pursuing or looking into the possibilities of pursuing a career path into the Accounting, Bookkeeping and Tax Preparation services, you need to get to know more about what all Universal offers in their comprehensive training programs.

If you prefer onsite classroom study or looking for the benefits received on independent study, we have developed the programs that you will be able to get the one-on-one experience in your own home. The skills we have used over the course of the last 28 years, with the trial and error, the fine-tuning of accounting methods and strategies, and what we and thousands more have experienced running their own practices – we have provided to you the advantage to stay on top of your profession. Our coursework is designed to be exactly what you will be doing when you are servicing the biggest customer base available, the small business owner.

If you are looking for the knowledge, the skills, and the know-how to start or build your accounting or tax practice, or just looking to gain the essential skills to further your career in your place of business, Universal’s Programs are what you are going to need.

Click here to take the Video Tour of Universal and all that we offer to you, the accounting and tax professional to be the best in your field and to have the success in business and in your professional life that you are seeking.Our exclusive short term courses do just that!

Imagine staying on top of the latest in the industry and having access to the experts who can assist you through training? Imagine what you are learning can be applied the very next day at work? Imagine being able to keep the materials, and the reading for continued referencing as you take that path in Accounting, Bookkeeping and Tax Preparation? You don’t have to imagine too hard, because that is one of the many things you receive when you enroll in these specialized programs! Click here to get to know Universal Accounting.

Are You Ready For The Next Step?
Be in business for yourself, but not by yourself getting paid what you’re worth! Are you tired of thinking, “Why not me?” You have gotten this far in your search to do what you want to in your chosen career, take the next step. The time is now to be able to get the training and the change you desire in your professional life.

Be the Profit Expert Professional for Small Business! Don’t hesitate another day in getting the Accounting and Marketing Training that makes the difference. Click here to get more information on what you need to know about becoming the Profit Center Expert for small business accounting and tax!

Successful Telecommuting:

5 Tips to Make It Work

Accounting is noted as an occupation well-suited for telecommuting. Most employees can name countless benefits of telecommuting while some employers are a bit more leery of this alternative approach to employment. But when the right employees are chosen to telecommute, businesses can also enjoy many telecommuting perks: increased productivity, happier and healthier employees, and lower building costs. In order to make a positive impression on your boss, and to make telecommuting work for you, here are five success tips:

1. Know your own strengths and weaknesses
It’s important to recognize that self-disciplined, proactive employees make the best telecommuters. If you need micromanagement or lots of social interaction to be productive, than telecommuting may not be the best approach for you. However, if you can identify your weaknesses and develop a strategy to counteract them, you might be able to evolve into a successful telecommuter. Whatever the case may be, serious self-reflection is a must if you’re going to prepare yourself for a positive telecommuting experience.

2. Have the right equipment
Sometimes all you need to telecommute is a laptop and a telephone. But don’t wait until your first day working from home to determine whether or not you have the equipment you need. Make a list long before you start to avoid wasting precious work time. Contact computer support personnel to get authorization to access required networks and/or to learn how to upload and download necessary files. Designate an office space in your home and ensure that you have everything you need (printer, fax machine, filing cabinet, etc.) to be successful. Also ensure that you have the proper internet connection to make your online interactions fast and efficient.

3. Communicate with supervisors and colleagues well and often
Often employers are weary of telecommuting because they assume that once the workplace is out of sight, it will also be out of mind. You need to communicate with supervisors and colleagues well and often in order to let them know you’re on task and moving forward. And if you don’t have good communication skills, you need to get them. Just because you communicate frequently doesn’t mean you communicate effectively. Information should be clear and timely.

4. Set boundaries with family and friends
One of the benefits of telecommuting is the ability to better balance work and family. There’s no doubt that working from home gives you more flexibility in your schedule. But it’s difficult to get any work done if your children think you’re on vacation. Countless interruptions will make you less, not more, productive. In order for telecommuting to work you need to set some ground rules. Ensure that your entire family is on board and willing to respect the boundaries required to make your telecommuting effort successful. On the other hand, you must return the favor by respecting family time; it can be difficult to leave work at the office when that office is in your home.

5. Maintain professionalism
Another benefit of telecommuting is showing up to work in your PJ’s. But if you’re not careful, your work might begin to reflect a lack of professionalism. Regardless of whether or not you power dress at home, your work should be powerful and demonstrate a professionalism that transcends the distance that now exists between you and the workplace.

Telecommuting can provide employees and employers with countless benefits. But in order to find success you must be willing to do what’s required to make it work. Once you do, everyone can be satisfied with the result. And that will go a long way to make telecommuting a more viable approach to employment. Get the skills that make the difference in the workplace. Click Here to find out more.

Reroute your career before hitting a breaking point

By Carol Kleiman

From 1995 to 1998, when Mary Lou Quinlan was chief executive officer of a major advertising agency, she used to dream about breaking a leg. Today Quinlan, 51, is founder and CEO of Just Ask a Woman, a New York-based marketing consulting firm — and she’s not a masochist:

She simply used to fantasize about a way to get a break from the “cutthroat” ad world and her demanding job.

“My work schedule had gotten out of control and I didn’t have a life,” said Quinlan, who supervised a staff of 400 people and earned in the six figures. “I was working 15 hours days and traveling a lot — I even took off my heels and ran barefoot through an airport to make a flight — and I was overwhelmed. I was a human FedEx package.

“Dreaming of breaking a leg was really my way of trying to think of something temporary that I could survive and that would give me a few weeks away from work. After 23 years, I was exhausted.”

And she’s not alone. “According to my research, almost seven in 10 people who make $40,000 or more a year fantasize about taking at least several months off, and one in five 35- to 40-year-olds fantasize about it daily,” said Quinlan, who has an MBA and who has also worked in public relations and in fund raising. She quotes this statistic in her new book, “Time Off for Good Behavior: How Hardworking Women Can Take a Break and Change Their Lives” (Broadway Books).

In 1998, Quinlan, who is married to Joe Quinlan, an independent television new producer, asked for five weeks off to focus on herself. “I combined my vacation and time due me, so it was paid leave,” she said. “I fully expected to return to work.”

The weeks of time she claimed for herself were better than healing from a broken leg: “I lived my life for the first time,” said Quinlan, “I took walks in my neighborhood, I met friends for lunch, I took salsa lessons, I kept a journal — and the big thing was that I was relaxed and thought about my life for the first time. Did I have a life? No, I worked.”

She soon realized she wanted to do research and create strategies for companies that wanted to build their business with female customers. She also wanted to write and give talks and be in control of her life.

“I went back to work and quit the first day,” Quinlan said. “I couldn’t get back to that life after I once had seen the other side of the fence. It opened my eyes to what life can be.”

Fortunately, the agency’s holding company liked her idea and provided funding for Just Ask a Woman, which she started in 1999 and bought in 2002. The marketing firm has three employees and, she says, “is very profitable.” She works normal hours and has reduced her travel.

Because she at first remained under the aegis of her employer, Quinlan’s leaving her job was not a financial hardship and her benefits were maintained. But she does has specific advice for others who must take a break before they break.

“Don’t do it just on the spur of the moment,” the executive advised. “Plan ahead. Figure out how much time you’ll need. Make a financial plan, an escape hatch to bide you over in case your leave is unpaid. Get support from friends and family who might pitch in on child care, if you need it, and give you space and time to get a rest for the first time in your life.”

Then, negotiate with your boss for what you need, she adds. “Suggest how work might be covered in your absence. Discuss your plans to return to work — and assure them you will. If you’re really miserable you should just quit. Don’t lie.”

And use your time off wisely, as she did. “Reflect,” Quinlan urged. “Start to draw some boundaries at work so that you have time for yourself, too.” The executive believes it is possible to reduce stress by setting a new schedule at work.

But first you need the time to do it: “Don’t break a leg when you’re at that serious breaking point,” Quinlan said. “Do something about your situation. It’s scary to take the risk of a leave of absence, but the alternative is worse.”

Do You Enjoy What You Do?

For way too many of us, the answer is no. Work can be hectic and stressful. Often, our careers just are not going anywhere. We need something to get them going again. The Professional Bookkeeper program gives you hands-on training in the full range of Accounting and Bookkeeping skills needed to succeed.

Learn How the Professional Bookkeeper Program Can Get Your Career Back On Track

Jump On That Promotion Escalator

(Part I of II)

There’s a lot of talk these days about workplace superstars. They seem to leap up the career ladder, baffling coworkers with their ability to please management, profit the company, and work well with others. They’re not freaks of nature, but they are deliberate career creatures who approach every project, interaction, and task with purpose. Want to know their secret? Here are 4 of 8 things superstars do that the average employee doesn’t:

1. Study the organization.
It’s important to know about the organization. What its mission, objectives, critical path? Superstars recognize that helping the organization (and/or the “boss”) accomplish its goals will catapult their own careers. But you can’t do that unless you’ve studied the organization.

2. Develop a strategy.
Superstars approach their workday with purpose, strategy. They look at their current job as a way to expand their portfolio of experience and skills. They’re proactive in their approach to projects, finding and selecting tasks that will boost their resumes. But remember, they’re also aware of what the company wants, so they hitch their personal objectives to the company’s wagon to simultaneously advance both the organization and their careers.

3. Take initiative.
When superstars look at their job descriptions they recognize the difference between fulfilling standards requirements and taking initiative to go above and beyond the call of duty. Taking real initiative requires that you first do your assigned job well. Then you must exceed those requirements in some way. Also consider how you might help others as you accomplish your tasks. And initiative generally requires taking some risks. Finally, you must see the task to successful completion.

Julie B. Kampf, president of an executive-search firm called JBK Associates Inc recognizes that superstars take initiative. She lists ways superstars can be recognized for their initiative: “Bringing a new client to the firm that no one else thought of, or bringing a new product to the distribution channel, are ways to be recognized as a superstar. It’s about not just thinking of what’s current, but thinking above and beyond. If you currently sell to Wal-Mart or Target, for example, you think about selling to the Home Shopping Network or QVC, too.”

4. Enhance your skills.
Superstars are proactive in their approach to career development. They look for ways to build their skill set, becoming more valuable employees. Actively seek conferences and workshops you can attend, training you can take, and or designations you can earn. It will not only enhance your skills, but it will show just how serious you are about being a valuable employee.

UAC’s QuickBooks Training is a good place to start
Universal Accounting Center (UAC) has a training program that will teach you QuickBooks quickly, and painlessly. As an accountant it behooves you to know the most popular accounting software available. Being able to list QuickBooks mastery on your resume will boost your value to current and potential employers. UAC’s Guide to QuickBooks Pro is a self-paced program that enables you to become a QuickBooks Specialist, proving your expertise. Talk to your supervisor today and see if your employer can pay for your registration fees. Take your first step in becoming a superstar; enroll today.

You too can be a workplace superstar. All it takes is reflection on your current approach to your job and the implementation of a few necessary changes. These first four actions will help you get started. Come back next week to read four more:

5. Communicate.
6. Go beyond the call of duty.
7. Practice effective leadership.
8. Practice proactive followership.

Jump on that Promotion Escalator: Become a Superstar at Work

(Part Two of a Two-Part Series)

Look, over in that cubicle. Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s a workplace superstar! You’ve seen them before. They complete projects faster than a speeding bullet. They’re more powerful than their coworkers, and they can leap career ladders in a single bound. Want to know their secret? It has nothing to do with gene mutation, as you might suspect. It has more to do with attention to eight simple actions that get them recognized. You too can be a workplace superstar if you develop these simple characteristics. Last week we talked about 1-4: 1. Study the organization, 2. Develop a strategy, 3. Take initiative, and 4. Enhance your skills.

Today we’ll talk about 5-8.

5. Communicate.

Workplace superstars know that good communication requires good timing. You should not only know what messages are worth relaying, but who the audience should be and the best time to share them. You should also be able to captivate your audience. Practice your delivery so that you get to the point in a dynamic way, and avoid rambling. If you over-communicate, chances are people will begin to tune you out.

6. Go beyond the call of duty.

The “go-to guy” is the workplace superstar who can be trusted to go beyond the call of duty. Don’t allow yourself to be taken advantage of, but do be willing to help your boss and/or coworkers when they need it. This also requires you to be conscious of each project and task you tackle and how it might be enhanced in order to better meet company objectives. This may necessitate that you put in extra time or revise your initial approach.

7. Practice effective leadership.

Workplace superstars are great leaders. You should recognize when a team lacks leadership and step up to the plate. Stars are not bossy or condescending; you have clear objectives and lead by involving the entire team. You should also recognize what others have to contribute and be positive and affirming. Robert E. Kelley is the author of the book How to Be a Star at Work: 9 Breakthrough Strategies You Need to Succeed. He discusses the importance of spelling leadership with a small “l.” Kelley explains that workplace superstars are great motivators and they allow their teammates to get the work done. As George S. Patton once said, “Don’t tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results.”

8. Practice proactive followership.

Not only are workplace superstars great leaders, but they’re also great followers. You’ll have countless opportunities to follow in your career. And the manner in which you do is the determining factor in whether or not you become a superstar. A star follower will follow the leader, know how to best contribute, and will offer feedback in a non-threatening way.

By doing these 8 things, you can become a workplace superstar, getting the recognition necessary to climb that career ladder and get the promotion you deserve. And it may be easier than you expect; you don’t have to deflect bullets with your steel-like chest, or turn back time by changing the rotational patterns of the earth. All it requires is that you focus on your current approach at work and see how you can make positive and star-like changes.

Gain a Solid Reputation:

Building a Solid Reputation in the Workplace

The best way to impress your boss and coworkers often comes from being a stand-up person. Showing good character generates trust and will help you build a solid reputation in the workplace. Here are ten tips on making a lasting impression with your colleagues, supervisors, and those you come in contact on a daily basis:

1. Take responsibility for your mistakes.
You’ll waste too much energy trying to defer blame when you’ve made a mistake. Stand tall and admit responsibility where it’s yours. Apologize if necessary and take steps to repair any damage. It is always better to admit the mistake and take care of it quickly, instead of letting it fester and become an obstacle for you to do your work properly.

2. Share responsibility for achievements.
Nothing can be more frustrating for coworkers than when you grandstand. If you’re willing to admit when you’ve made a mistake, you must also be willing to give credit where it’s due; when coworkers contribute to a success, proudly state their contributions.

3. Never gossip.
Talking about coworkers when they’re not present can feel oddly satisfying, but in whatever form, gossiping is never a good thing. It usually gets back to the person in the end, hurting their feelings. And gossipers, regardless of how they might justify their behavior, never appear honorable in those sad, water-cooler moments. In addition, try to avoid those conversations that go into the grey area of propriety and tact. Show that when you guide your brain power to a positive influence you can also do that with your tongue.

4. Don’t say, “That’s not my job.”
It’s good to know when to say “no,” but that “no” should never come in the form of “that’s not my job.” Team players are always valuable, so when a coworker or supervisor asks for your help or wants you to contribute in some way, never reply, “That’s not my job.” Employees who only stay within the strict confines of their job descriptions are unable to learn and grow (and add new skills and experience to their resumes). They can also become annoying cubicle hobbits who don’t work well with others. Be amenable to assisting your coworkers when you can and they will take note of it.

5. Help coworkers with crucial projects.
This is another way you can be a team player. If there’s something you can contribute to a coworker’s success, do it. Be willing to share some of your time and energy in order to help coworkers succeed. Usually that type of favor comes back your way when you least expect it and need it most.

6. Ask for help when you need it.
Admitting that you need help is not a sign of weakness; it’s a sign of your willingness to do whatever’s necessary to succeed. And because you’re not sloughing responsibility, usually those whose help you enlist will be proud of their ability to contribute. One mistake that is made is that you ask much too often of those around you. Make sure the time you ask, it’s something you absolutely can’t do by yourself.

7. Don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know.”
We’ve all met people who apparently know everything and have done it all. Chances are many of those people are insecure and afraid to admit when they’re uncertain or don’t know. Sometimes pretending to know can get you into more trouble than admitting that you don’t.

8. Give compliments.
The workplace can often seem a competitive place where everyone is trying to get the edge on everyone else. You may be surprised at how good it feels to celebrate in the success of others. A well deserved but unexpected compliment either in the cubicle or in the conference room goes a long way in great to keep that good vibe in the office. When genuine, compliments always create good feelings.

9. Graciously accept compliments.
This tip is as simple as they come. Don’t minimize your achievements by explaining how easy the task was. But also don’t take the opportunity to ooze on about how difficult it was and how equal to the task you where. Say “thank you” and move on to your next great achievement.

10. Don’t let others give you their monkeys.
I once had this great boss who told me never to leave someone else’s office with their monkey on my back. When you’re a team player and are willing to contribute to others’ success, some might think they can take advantage of you by passing unpleasant tasks your way. Don’t let that happen. You are benefitting them nothing when you don’t allow them to have the responsibility that the project calls for. To do so requires that you look at what a coworker or supervisor is asking and measure whether or not they want your help or see you as an easy target. Good character is also shown when you know your responsibilities and can say “no” when others try to unload their difficulties onto you.

Building a solid reputation is a matter of consciously making the best choices you can for yourself and your coworkers. When you do that you’ll find that people trust your work and look to you as a leader.

Have the confidence to take on anything within your “circle of influence”. You will be surprised in what you know and the talents that you inherently have when you but forth the effort. Universal Accounting is all about supporting those who are looking to gain that confidence, solid, comprehensive training brings to a person’s career. Today is that day when you gain access to the training that will make the difference in your career path. Click here to find out more about Universal’s Professional Bookkeeping training.

New Year’s Resolutions

Five Tips for Giving Them “Sticking Power” This Year

I’ve made some; you’ve made some. Chances are we’ve made several over the course of our lifetimes. What am I talking about? New Year’s Resolutions. In fact, if you’re like most people, just one month ago you made a handful that you vowed to keep in 2008. How is it going so far?

Our ability to keep resolutions can change the course of our lives. Social scientists have been studying this for years, and many more wonder what the trick is to not only making the right resolutions, but in keeping them. Here are a few tips on making those resolutions stick this year:

1. Write It Down
Writing down your resolutions gives them a voice and helps you envision the actualization of those resolutions. When it comes to your profession, it’s a must to write those professional benchmarks down; it becomes the standard by which you can measure your progress and then celebrate your success.

2. Reverse Engineer It
Pretend that you have already achieved your resolution. What does that feel like, sound like, look like? When you visualize the achievement of your resolution you can often see the steps necessary to get there. As that image becomes ingrained in your mind, it feels more natural to follow the path necessary to achieve that resolution. In essence, you pave the way to success in your mind first, in your life second.

3. Search out Examples
This step requires you to find others who have achieved what you hope to accomplish yourself. Some call this “modeling.” Individuals in the business world find Lee Iacocca or Jack Welch to be good examples. But it doesn’t have to be a larger-than-life character; it could be a former employer or a family friend that you admire. It’s important that you come to know “their story” regarding how they accomplished what they did. It helps you to visualize their success as well as your own.

4. Find a Mentor
When you have a mentor who has achieved what you hope to achieve, you have access to someone who can give you direction and help you avoid some of the mistakes they may have made. They can also advice you on how to most effectively move forward and achieve the success of which you dream.

5. Positive Reinforcement
When you reach a milestone you have set, or achieved a point where you can move forward to your next goal, reward yourself: give yourself a pat on the back, a little reward or treat that shows you have arrived. The reward should be something special, something you don’t experience everyday; it should be a true acknowledgement that you have achieved something significant and deserve to celebrate it.

Resolutions with Built-in Rewards

The best resolutions are those with built-in rewards. When you enroll in Universal Accounting Center’s programs, you increase your earning potential, impress current and potential employers, earn valuable certification, and, if interested, can earn extra money on the side – all on your own time and from the comfort of your own home. Here are two resolutions you should consider:

Our Professional Tax Preparer Certification will train you in the preparation of personal and business taxes. You can earn certification that will wow your employer and enable you to charge $100 plus an hour preparing taxes in your spare time. And tax season is upon us. Imagine, in just 30 hours you can earn enough moonlighting as a tax preparer to pay for the program 3 times over.

Over 85% of accounting opportunities are with small businesses. The Professional Bookkeeper Program is designed to help you serve this niche market in desperate need of a Profit Center Expert, a title that could easily be yours. Whether you’re a novice or expert accountant, this program is designed to train you to start a successful and lucrative business as a Professional Bookkeeper. And when you couple this training with the Professional Tax Preparer Certification, you could become a full-service financial provider in the New Year. Don’t wait another day to change the face of your career. Order now.

Bouncing Back is Key Skill in Workplace

By Carol Kleiman — Chicago Tribune

Resiliency: Ability to recover rapidly from illness, change or misfortune. Buoyancy. Elasticity.
- Webster’s New College Dictionary

Go with the flow. Thrive under pressure. Keep on keeping on.

All these terms describe someone who’s resilient — a trait especially needed in today’s stressful and rapidly changing workplace.

“Being resilient is critical today. People have come through the rah-rah ’90s — which were great for you, but also exhausting because you worked longer hours and had the relentless pressure of the global marketplace.

“Now you have to deal with the stress of economic conditions and uncertainty about employment. And, at the same time, the state of business today is that people have to perform optimally under consistently stressful and challenging conditions.”

That’s the observation of an expert on the subject, Karen F. Noble, senior consultant at WFD Consulting, a work/life consulting firm in Watertown, Mass. Noble, who has a master’s degree in psychology and has been in consulting since 1978, reports that a recent survey by her firm shows that only 52 percent of 1,249 workers said they are able to manage the daily pressures of their jobs.

Slightly more than half — 54 percent — asserted they can maintain their job performance during times of change; 25 percent reported being physically or mentally drained by the end of the day; and, only 42 percent responded that they “always have enough energy” to complete their responsibilities both at home and at work.

“Resiliency is the ability to bounce back from difficulties, to manage pressure and to adapt quickly to change while you continue to perform your work at a high level,” said Noble. “It means thriving in the face of challenge.”

The consultant has observed an increasing need for workers to be resilient.

“The train’s been on the track for the last six to nine years,” said Noble. “And now workers are beginning to bottom out. At the same time, many companies are starting to recognize this phenomenon and the need for their employees to be fully engaged for the business to compete at a high level.”

Being able to survive change is such a necessity in the world of work/life balance that Noble’s organization has devised a “resiliency survey” and a briefer “resiliency scorecard” to help companies identify practices that “deter elasticity.” Often, a key cause of stress — the opposite of resiliency — is lack of employer support.

As a result, Noble reports that some businesses that are trying to train employees to be more resilient are focusing on “habits, health, diet and time for yourself.” And, of course, flexible scheduling.

“One executive even established a committee for employees that created fun activities in the workplace,”the consultant said. “As a result, employee satisfaction increased and business results went up.”

I asked Noble where she ranks on the resiliency scale. “I’m pretty resilient, because my company is there for me,” she said.

In 1993, for example, when the consultant was a single mother with two children, ages 8 and 10, Noble was supposed to go to California — the opposite coast — for interviews with executives and to run a focus group for hundreds of people.

“But my babysitter literally fell off this planet,” she said. “I called my manager and he told me not to worry, just to do what I had to do. His understanding made all the difference. I knew if I couldn’t work it out and the meetings had to be canceled, I would never be punished.”

That support freed her to be resilient: “I was able to get on the phone and line up friends to baby-sit,” said Noble. “If I had feared I would lose my job, my stress would have been off the map, I would have been less able to solve the problem – and I probably would not still be at this company.”

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Workplace Friendships

They’re More Beneficial than You Might Think

You’re well aware that employees value jobs more when they enjoy good friendships at their workplace. In fact, one of the greatest deterrents to productivity is feeling ostracized or alienated from co-workers. But can good work relationships really make you more productive? Studies say “yes.”

Accountemps with www.SmartPros.com conducted a survey of 150 senior executives from 1000 of the nation’s largest companies and 519 of their full and part-time employees to see whether or not they believed that workplace friendships increase productivity. 57% of executives believed they did while 63% of employees agreed with them.

Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps, explained, “Colleagues who are friends are more likely to support one another when presented with challenges or new responsibilities, enhancing workflow and team spirit.” He went on to say, “Supervisors can increase camaraderie by sponsoring team-building events and giving staff members the opportunity to get to know each other outside of an office setting.”

But what can you do to build lasting relationships in the workplace? Here are five tips to consider:

1. Determine common goals. Just like most friendships, professional relationships develop as a result of common experiences, perceptions, and aspirations. When building relationships with coworkers look for commonality, especially in your professional goals. In this respect you can work together to achieve your career objectives, providing one another with valuable support.
2. Treat co-workers with respect. Regardless of whether or not you develop friendships with all of your co-workers, you should treat everyone respectfully. While you definitely shouldn’t allow anyone to take advantage of your good nature, you should make an effort to be friendly and polite to all your coworkers. This speaks volumes of your character and will only serve you well in the long run.
3. Avoid both alienation and favoritism. As you build professional relationships, the last thing you want to do is run a popularity contest where cliques are formed and coworkers find themselves either “in” or “out.” You want to foster a work environment where everyone feels welcome and included. If you’re finding yourself on the “outs,” there’s bound to be someone else that you could befriend who shares that experience. And always remember, work relationships should be inclusive rather than exclusive.
4. Demonstrate responsibility. You’ll lose favor quickly if you let your coworkers down. Being late, missing important meetings and failing to follow through on tasks will not help you “win friends and influence people.” Your workplace stock will only go up when you demonstrate responsibility and practice teamwork.
5. Maintain professionalism. When you build close relationships with people it’s common to feel comfortable, casual, and heaven forbid, slap-happy with each other. While it’s great to have fun it’s not good to be slack in your professionalism. At all costs avoid gossiping, sharing off-color jokes or forwarding inappropriate emails. With workplace relationships there’s a fine balance you must achieve between being personable and being professional.

It’s good to know that workplace relationships can help you be more productive. As you strive to turn coworkers into friends, remember that as with all things professional, you must follow a few rules of workplace etiquette in order to take full advantage of those professional relationships.

References
“Survey: Friendships Benefit Job Performance.” 26 June 2007. SmartPros.com.
Koepcke, A.G. “Professional Friendships: The Importance of Workplace Friendships and How They Help You.” 18 March 2007. suite101.com.