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Recently in Feedback Category
Q: I work in an office with 4 other people. My boss rarely has us meet, and usually when we do meet it is about every 6 months and it usually has something to do with what we are doing wrong. How often should we meet as a team and as individuals?
A: Sounds like a tough spot you are in; good teams have regular dialogue every day, so the need for a sit-down meeting may not be very necessary. However, since it sounds like when you do have a meeting it is to point out flaws, perhaps you may want to suggest to your boss that your team should meet more regularly so it doesn't feel that way.
Very often, meetings are ineffective because they have no agenda or because they focus on the negative. Look at the reasons why you want to meet more often with everyone, and see if there is something you can do to get together without the boss, and then share the meeting results with him.
Every company needs a protocol to ensure communication across all levels of management is consistent. Once in a while, someone may go too far up or down the ladder of management to communicate information, or may not communicate properly at all.
An open door policy is most effective when proper protocols are put in place so it is used efficiently. Having a company email address and phone number that people can reach you at to set up an appointment is best. Some people aren't comfortable spilling details over email, but at least using email and the phone to book the time can prevent a lot of inefficiency.
Over the past two years, I've seen the level of dialogue I've had with people become more effective because people use email and the phone to address issues before making an in-person visit.
As managers, the open door should be open for the open door policy to be effective, but that doesn't mean the open door has to be walked through; just as effectively, a well-crafted email and phone policy can make you seem more open to feedback than you are now.
A couple companies I do work with recently had going away parties for retiring employees. In one case, a new employee had already been hired to fill this person's position. It made me think that perhaps the going away party is only effective if we also celebrate the arrival of someone new to that role.
So much effort is put into recognizing someone who is leaving a company; if the same effort could be put in to welcome a new member of the organization, imagine how much more welcome they would feel to be on board.
Certainly, the extravagance that may go into recognizing someone who has given years of their life to the organizations will dwarf what is done for their replacement, but a welcoming party where the entire staff is invited can certainly provide an appropriate way for the replacement to come in and feel welcome as well.
Q: Should I ask about compensation and benefits at an interview? What other questions should I ask? - Scotia, NY
A: Benefits yes, compensation, maybe not. A good way to get an idea of how a company will take care of you is to ask "If I am brought on board, what kind of health and fringe benefits do you offer?" This can help you find out what your company offers you without being too pushy.
A good question to ask someone interviewing you is "How long have you been with the company, and what has influenced you to work here?" This helps the company see if you are interested in the long haul, and can develop an instant rapport amongst your potential peers.
When I returned to Connecticut after my time with Disney, I encountered quite a bit of culture shock upon my return. Although I had grown up, worked in management, and spent several years away from where I grew up, those I returned to seemed to be suffering from "small town disease".
What is small town disease? It's a state of mind that people have when they lack perspective that can come with stepping outside one's comfort zone to see another way of looking at things. It can also be a closed-minded approach to any outside idea or thought.
Very often, the worst way to deal with those afflicted by this "ailment" is thinking that any outside perspective you bring to the table is the right one. Many times, people who you have left behind may have some resentment towards others who have left or come back, and don't want to hear what you have to say. Balance your perspective with what people back home are doing well, and you may find that they are doing things a lot better than you considered or observed before.
How do you prevent small town disease? If you don't get out of town once in a while, the best way to avoid it is always to keep on top of global issues in your industry, whether or not you leave the area. As well, stay open minded to the perspective of those who have gone outside of their area to experience something elsewhere.
I had the pleasure of having Ted Potrikus from the Retail Council speak to my Retailing class yesterday. He enlightened my students on just how many opportunities there are in retail beyond the store manager/salesperson type roles. Sharing many stories from the Loss Prevention and Legal aspects of retail, Ted gave many of my students inspiration to pursue new opportunities in retail that they may not have considered before.
It always alarms me when people will thumb their nose up at careers in retail, hospitality or foods (or for any field for that matter) without considering options beyond the day-to-day operations or entry level roles. No matter the career field, there are so many varieties of opportunities to consider if you are willing to keep an open mind
On a recent client visit, I arrived a few minutes early and met a new client in the process. He was doing some work on my client's home and mentioned he had been looking for someone to take a look at his website for a while.
It sometimes annoys people when I get to places early, but I find it to be much more effective then running late.
And yes, I spelled "there" incorrectly above, but there is a reason. If you want your business to turn into "their" business, it sometimes pays to arrive at your destination early. Use the time to work on meeting with new clients, prepare for the rest of your day, or in my case, meet someone I wouldn't have met if I was simply on time or running late.
Whether its getting early for a job interview, arriving to class early, or arriving to work early, the time you have before your appointment begins can lead to meeting someone new, getting a job offer you weren't expecting, or simply having an experience you never have had before.
Last time, I talked about ways to earn extra income at work through new responsibilities and volunteering to work overtime. Today, I'd like to share with you some ideas on how to "moonlight" or add supplemental income without affecting your personal life or worklife and time.
If you are in retail, there are a number of legit mystery shopping companies that will hire you to do freelance mystery shopping. While not a lot of money, $10-25 per mystery shop is certainly the norm when it comes to doing this type of work.
Another retail option is short-term merchandising assignments. Many companies will hire temporary staff for a new floor set or holiday event.
In foods, opportunities exist working part-time at banquet events or trade shows. Likewise, many food companies will do mystery shops or demos at stores.
The possibilities are endless. Sites like elance.com provide you with lists of such short-term opportunities as I describe above.
Q: I work in retail, and I can't seem to get a raise out of my employer, no matter what I try. They tell me I am a hard worker and they make me feel valued, but it isn't showing in my paycheck. What can I do to earn more money at work when they won't adjust my hours?
A: There are a variety of solutions for you to look at.
One is offering to work overtime. Some companies would rather provide employees with a few hours of guaranteed overtime a week instead of hiring another worker to fill that role.
Another is putting together a proposal to work on a special project. Find out what your employer needs - it may be help with the launch of a new product or service, writing training materials, conducting workshops, or providing work outside the scope of your immediate responsibilities. If you can find a way to quantify the results you may get from the project your propose, you may see opportunities to earn one-time bonuses or supplementary pay.
Other options are to consider moving to a higher volume location, a department that offers sales incentives, or seek out a supplementary income leveraging the skills you use in the store right now.
Next time, I'll talk about some opportunities to freelance without giving up your day job.
Q: I'm graduating in May, and have applied for many companies I hope to work for over winter break. A few companies have told me to wait until April to apply, while others have asked me to apply now. What is the right approach to take?
A: When I was graduating, it was common practice to have interviews lined up with companies before spring break of the last semester. Nowadays, companies practice different philosophies. Some, with clear succession plans and clear start dates of roles, may follow the practice that I describe. Others, whose needs are unclear, may wait until you are close to graduating to consider you for employment.
For example, if you are available May 15, you may want to revisit some of the companies you have sent a resume to around the 1st of April. At that point, the company knows you are going to be available within 6 weeks, and may have a more accurate picture of what their needs are.
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