How to Perfect Your Posts for Social Media [Infographic]

How to Perfect Your Posts for Social Media [Infographic]

5 Traits to Distinguish Confident versus Arrogant Leaders By Anne Warfield

5 Traits to Distinguish Confident versus Arrogant Leaders

The Do’s and Don’ts of References - Hcareers

The Do’s and Don’ts of References - Hcareers

THE INTERNET JOB SEARCH SUPER TOOL!!!

THE INTERNET JOB SEARCH SUPER TOOL!!!

Sonia McIntosh's Personality Type Results

Sonia McIntosh's Personality Type Results

New Leader Tuesday-7 Ideas to Strengthen Accountability on Your Team by Art Petty

New Leader Tuesday-7 Ideas to Strengthen Accountability on Your Team

Should You Hire a Vet? , by Joyce Gioia

Should You Hire a Vet? , by Joyce Gioia 
http://hotelexecutive.com/business_review/3431/should-you-hire-a-vet

Are You A Victim Of Worry?, by Sonia McIntosh

(This image is not owned by AVV)



Worry is an unhealthy and destructive mental habit. It is likely to affect all of us at some time in our lives. Worry will disturb a person’s healthy mental and physical well-being. It occurs when your mind is clogged with anxiety, fear and insecurity. It is impossible to think clearly while your mind is filled with fears and doubts. Worry can surface to such level of frightening, painful physical sensation which can be mistaken for a heart attack. There is no formula guaranteeing a worry-free life, but there are techniques for minimizing worry.

INHALE. EXHALE.

Take time out to look at the ritual you create every day to put you in a state of worry. Then make a note of the things you can fix immediately.  There is no fun nor pride staying in a rut. The things you can’t fix immediately - SEEK HELP! It is pointless to go around wasting time brooding over situations that there are always answers to. Nothing in life is static!



DO NOT BE AFRAID TO TALK ABOUT SITUATIONS THAT YOU WORRY ABOUT

Cultivate friendships with hopeful people. Surround yourself with friends who think positive, faith-producing thoughts and who contribute to a creative atmosphere. Learn from those who have been able to overcome worry. By sharing you can also help others overcome the same worry habit. Avoid people that constantly bring up worry conversation. Stay positive!

YOU ACQUIRED WORRY HABITS

Picture some of the worry thoughts that go through your mind:
I blame myself when things go wrong.
I focus on the negative rather than the positive aspects of my life/career.
I bottle up my problems, then feel like I want to explode.
I feel uncomfortable when experiencing new situations.
I feel that the role I play within my organization is inadequate.
I worry that I didn’t say the right thing.
I get unnerved when I make a decision.
I am afraid that people will not like me.
I will never get out of debt.
I am afraid to fail.
　
EXTERNAL RESOURCES

For those areas you are unable to fix, seek the resources outside that will guide you in the right directions.

SUPPORT SYSTEM

If you are affiliated with any religious organization get involved with their support system. There are a number of counseling programs and centers available in your city. Special crisis centers are set up to meet the demand of urgent issues.

Striving to break the worry habit to improve everything you do requires time, some effort and sacrifice.

　

　

　www.avvblogspot.com

A Simple Way Of Uncovering Your Values - by Sonia McIntosh

Your habits are your values! They are the core of who you are. Values are foundational beliefs that anchor our lives, the things that matter to us most, the nonnegotiable characteristics that best define our identity. We reflect our true values in our daily lives but they emerge with distinct clarity in times of stress, crisis or important decision-making. Values are the core of your being. Values are the basis of your character, ethics, action, attitudes and personal beliefs and can change over time. Get in touch with your values for clarity of where you should not go, but what motivates you to move in the value fulfilling direction you should go. Example of words or phrases that will illustrate your values are: Accomplishment, consistency with biblical teachings, determination, forward-looking, good taste, diligence, efficiency, faithfullness, tongue control, respect for the environment, respect or people, impacting people, making money, lack of pretense, temperance.

Take time out to make up a list of your values and try ranking them.

How To Move Forward With The Choice You Make - by Sonia McIntosh

What happens when life throws you a curve ball? What will you do when you are left stranded in life? How do you move forward when you are faced with challenges? Take a look at the root of the problem and make another choice. Stop blaming others for every decision and choice you make.  Don't allow your mind to dwell on failure and lack. Quitting is not an option! Many successful people today failed in many ways before reaching their goals. Your situation is never so bad that you cannot do something to improve it. You can still succeed in spite of any handicaps. I came up with the acronym "CAR" as outlined in this blog to denote that we are all on a journey in life. If you are in a hurry you will fail because you lack perseverance and patience. Drive with ease!

"No man ever become great or good except through many and great mistakes"
                                          (Prime Minister Gladstone - England)


CHOICES!

When you see that what you are doing, what you have chosen is not working, make another choice. When you discover that what you are thinking or feeling is not bringing forth the thoughts and feelings you desire, make another choice. Regardless of how much time you have spent, or how much energy you have expended during whatever it is that you are doing, if it is not working for you, make another choice! Choosing does not mean you abandon or give up. Choice is not synonymous with being fickled or spaced. Choice simply means that you recognize the conflict, chaos, or pain the first choice has created, you choose to eliminate that experience by making another choice.

ACTION!
Seek a better way. Study and prepare for an opportunity. Back your faith with action then new ideas will come to help you improve on whatever you are doing. Running away from a problem will not solve it. Problems exist because there is a necessity to improve. That's why we have choices to make.

RESULTS!

Wishing will not bring results. Action will! Make that choice and new opportuntities for advancement will open up.

8 Dos And Don’ts Of Talking About Your Personal Life On The Job (via A Hire Calling)

Conversation is inevitable when employees spend 40+ hours a week on the job. This may turn the office into a home away from home, and co-workers into confidants. Unfortunately, this kind of environment is certain to produce chatter that veers into the personal realm. Under most circumstances, this…

How Effective Is Your Communication?

Everybody communicates in one way or another but few people deliver their messages very well.  Communication takes many forms such as speaking, writing, and listening  with the purpose of receiving something or giving something - a two way process.  If communication is not understood then it has failed.  Effective communication hinges on people understanding your meaning. There are so many opportunities for misunderstanding when we communicate online or written versus in person, because we read words on the screen and  can't hear voice inflections and such.

Here are some useful tips when communicating:

• When you communicate in person you keep aware of what the person might be communicating with his or her body language, tone of voice, or gestures.  Written word which is the basis of organization  communication because it is permanent and accessible as in online communication, letters, memos, reports, contracts, agendas, notices, or text messaging must match your medium with great care. Avoid acroynms and jargons that the audience may not understand and use phrases and words that resonate with the audience.

• In the case of text messaging it is better to be clear and direct if you do not have a close relationship with the other party. If you are best of buddies, or dating and have been involved over a long period of time, or a business associate that you are close with, then that becomes a different story - there is no room for awkwardness, you are similiar and have areas of focus in common.

• When online, it is important to periodically ask for clarification, gently ask about inconsistencies, and try giving a summary of what you're hearing. Ask if your understanding is accurate. In addition to building a stronger bond online, the goal is to read carefully before replying and get an accurate understanding of your party's perspective. Resist the temptation to dominate the conversation, know the party's values so you will be able to address topics that will come up. When it comes on to humor, sarcasm, this can be a thin line. Try to use playful humor and when you use it be careful with it. Avoid offensive comments or comments that can be construed as discriminatory. Be truthful, do not pretend to be someone or something else.

Before you communicate, decide on your message first, then select the best method to convey it.  Be concise and don't overuse words. Use words that your audience will understand and deliver the message succinctly.

Education Quotes For The Day!

 

"Without books, we should very likely be a still-primitive people living in the shadow of traditions that faded with years until only a blur remained, and different memories would remember the past in different ways.  A parent or a teacher has only his lifetime.  A book can teach forever"  ~Author Louis L'Amour

*****

"The ultimate goal of the educational system is to shift to the individual the burden of pursuing his own education.  This will not be a widely shared pursuit until we get over our odd conviction that education is what goes on in school"   ~ John W. Gardner, former HEW Secretary

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“I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.”
― Mark Twain

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"Whatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation.”
― Walter Cronkite

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“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”
― Saint Augustine of Hippo

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“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” ― Nelson Mandela

 

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"Intelligence plus character-that is the goal of true education.”

― Martin Luther King Jr.

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“The best thing for being sad," replied Merlin, beginning to puff and blow, "is to learn something. That's the only thing that never fails. You may grow old and trembling in your anatomies, you may lie awake at night listening to the disorder of your veins, you may miss your only love, you may see the world about you devastated by evil lunatics, or know your honour trampled in the sewers of baser minds. There is only one thing for it then — to learn. Learn why the world wags and what wags it. That is the only thing which the mind can never exhaust, never alienate, never be tortured by, never fear or distrust, and never dream of regretting. Learning is the only thing for you. Look what a lot of things there are to learn.”

― T.H. White, The Once and Future King

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The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.”
― Plutarch

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“Children must be taught how to think, not what to think.”
― Margaret Mead

Quick Tips to Help You Interpret Body Language? , by Sonia McIntosh

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/63168233@N06/8215739815/)

During my certification as a professional coach, I was introduced to the topic "Interpreting Body Language" and received training  on how to watch for these signs.  Often we tend to overlook this area when we lead, teach, coach or manage people. Although in International business meetings body language can have different meanings (we should familiarize ourselves with when conducting business meetings with people of different cultural background), nevertheless, in our day to day meetings, addressing an audience, performing reviews or evaluations, or just meeting one on one with a subordinate, we can learn to interpret body language and strive for a positive outcome in any situation.

Here are a few common hands, facial and body gestures:

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/plaisanter/5289014718/)

• Raised eyebrows and slight smile  -----------------      Encouragement
• Open expression and tilted head -------------------      Shows interest
• Upright posture/demeanor ---------------------------        Alertness
• Shoulders hunched /no eye contact-----------------    Low level of concentration, low self confidence
• Clenched fist, head lowered-----------------------------    Displeased, angry
• Arms folded, avoids eye contact----------------------     Boredom
• Hand pointing aggressively-----------------------------     Provocation, heckler (as stated in my previous post)
• Hand pushing up against head-------------------------   Lack of motivation
• Fingers cupping chin/eye contact---------------------   Desire to learn or know more
• Tapping fingers or restlessness------------------------    Lack of enthusiasm or a "don't care attitude"
• Eye contact/open body language---------------------   Attentiveness
• Wide eyed/raised eyebrows--------------------------      Annoyance, irritation
• Averted gaze/touching ear, squeezing eyes --------- Disbelief
• Open hand gestures--------------------------------------     Enthusiasm

Note:  Closed posture denotes hunched shoulders and no eye contact.

           Open posture denotes arms and hands relaxed, sitting or standing in an upright position.

 If you can watch out for these signs (not limited to this list), you can respond appropriately, or take the necessary corrective action to control a situation.

Simple Ways To Identify Stress - How Stressed Are You At Work? , by Sonia McIntosh

(From Evil Erin)

Stress is labeled as the "invisible killer." Most premature deaths in the US are caused by stress and half are work related. According to my family doctor stress will cause changes in your heart rate, metabolism, blood-pressure levels, and activity resulting from an increase in adrenaline and cortisol hormones.  Stress can be extremely damaging to you in the long run resulting in phobias, mood swings, panic attacks, sleeping disorder, alcoholism, drugs, and can mimic a heart attack.

My doctor further explained that stress will cause you to lose your ability to make sound decisions which can affect your family, children, marriage,  company, career, education and your health.  Understand that we can't live a stress free life, but we can learn to minimize stress and  know the symptoms.

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/finsec/483033130/)

I reearched various symptoms of stress and found these in common - fatigue, insomnia, headache, skin rashes, anxiety, overeating,  loss of appetite, looking disheveled, or  poor concentration.  Learn to beat stress!

One thing I stopped doing years ago was to take home work from my job.  I do understand that there are exceptions as in the case of occasionally meeting a project deadline. I am talking about taking work home on a regularly basis when this could be left for another day or delegated to an employee.  Avoid routinely working  late and going in when not needed on the weekend. Other things to consider to relieve stress is to exercise regularly, take a walk sometimes, get involved in your community and other social networking groups, go shopping, or treat yourself to  a massage and so forth.  It is ok to tell your boss that you are stressed and need some time off, or start delegating more, take short walks from the office.  Sometimes we are hard on ourselves when things don't go the way we anticipate so we focus more on the negative than the positive.  We constantly blame ourselves and dive into more unnecessary tasks. This can cause stress! You are damaging yourself both physically and emotionally.

Listen to what your body is telling you! Relax!

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/auduhomes/3857714048/)

How to deal with Hecklers in a Meeting - by Sonia McIntosh

It's your first big meeting to conduct since your promotion and you are excited and very well prepared, however, you have one problem and that is to deal with one or two disruptive person(s) in the audience - heckler!.  Before you got promoted, previous supervisors had to deal with a few hecklers , so now that you are  in the spotlight, you are  nervous about your encounter.

Wikipedia defines a heckler as "A person who harasses and tries to disconcert others with questions, challenges, gibes.  Hecklers are often known to shout disparaging comments at a performance or event, or to interrupt set-piece speeches, with the intent of disturbing performers

or participants."

Hecklers have hidden agendas.  They are attention seekers that love to respond to a speech with sarcasm just to make themselves look clever. Hecklers are pretty much trouble makers.   While others may respond to a  rhetorical question without intending you any malice, hecklers on the other hand are unleashing sarcasms and hostility.

Everyone deserves a fair hearing, even if you cannot agree with their point of view.  Give the heckler a chance to speak, reassure everyone that they will get a chance to speak especially if you know that others are waiting to be heard, and allow answers to be short. To deal with hecklers  you must be confident, courteous and firm and not enter into an argument. Do not allow a heckler to undermine you.  Remaining calm will diffuse any negative hostility. 

You are the mediator of the meeting therefore, only you can bring balance.  One key thing to remember is that the more exposure and experience you have, the better you will become at responding confidently and politely.

http://www.aboutleaders.com/bid/142084/Leadership-Skills-Forgiveness-and-Feedback

Effective Tips Repositioning Your S.M.A.R.T Goals - by Sonia McIntoah

 Are you unable to achieve your goals?  “Reposition” them and make sure that they are S.M.A.R.T!

*Specific*Measurable*Attainable*Relevant*Timely*

The biggest challenge many of us face when setting goals is that they are not clear enough.  Your weaknesses are at the start and if you are using the same strategies year after year, then you need to reposition them by changing the way you think, feel and envision your goals.  Don’t just focus on “what I want” syndrome.  Look at what you eventually desire in the end that would be beneficial for you, your company…the final outcome!  Where will S.M.A.R.T take you, your department or company in the end?  Will you still be at point “A” after you have used all the framework of S.M.A.R.T?  Perhaps you need to reposition your goals from the customer or employee viewpoint when aligning your specifics.

Let’s look at this scenario for Jane Smith when she first opened her business:

·        Specific – Create a wedding consultancy website for budget conscious couples.

·        Measurable – Gain one client quarterly by participating in area bridal shows and utilizing own in house metric to measure progress.

·        Attainable – Offer free consultation to all clients and share exclusive content through “Constant Contact” to engage  leads.

·        Relevant – An increase in clientele will create an increase in revenue.

·        Timely – Achieve first three clients in 6 months.

Looking at this S.M.A.R.T set up, everything seems to be on point; however, Jane Smith was not achieving these goals the way she had them outlined.  Jane really wanted to be a destination wedding consultant and to show off her expertise in this area (final outcome).   A new year has begun and now Jane Smith is repositioning her goals.   She redefined her Specifics, “Create a wedding consultancy website for budget conscious couples seeking destination weddings.”   Her Attainable now reads “Share exclusive content through Constant Connect to engage the numerous specific leads; and networking with destination hotels/resorts, other destination wedding planners, photographers, videographers and attending specific destination bridal shows.  This new S.M.A.R.T framework will give Jane Smith a clearer picture of where she is heading.

In conclusion, the next time your S.M.A.R.T goals are not in alignment with your passion, “reposition” them.