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In 2016, I started a new job, in a new town, with a new car, and I was on top of the world.

All my goals seemed to have fallen into place. I had the opportunity to build relationships with a new group of leaders, I had more autonomy over my work and full access to the senior leadership team. Not to mention a hefty bump in salary.

But about a year in to this position, I stopped feeling the high that brought me to that role in the first place. I enjoyed the work I was doing; it was challenging and rewarding. I liked many of the people I worked with (okay – some of the people). So what was missing?

Challenging work and a good team weren’t enough for me anymore. The missing piece was passion. I didn’t feel anything for the work the way I did in my previous position.

Then I remembered something my mentor told me, “things come into your life for a reason or a season.” Was my season up? Was I meant to do something more with my life? But what?

I started doing some research on purpose and passion. I listened to audiobooks on my commute and read articles on my lunch break. The resources all pointed to similar things: asking ourselves deep, thought-provoking questions.

These questions are designed to make us pause and think deeply about the answers. We don’t often give ourselves the luxury of time and solitude to figure things out. But when we do, we have the power to transform our lives.

Discover Your Passion

Here are the seven questions I asked myself to discover my passion:

1. What makes you forget to eat and pee? In other words, what do you get so lost in that you lose track of time?

Often, the answer to this question comes in the form of a hobby or activity. It doesn’t have to be something we are currently doing; it can be something we did in a previous job or before we had kids. Think about something you could do for hours, that when you look at the clock, you can’t believe how much time has passed.

For me, the answer to this question was creating. Creating in the form of PowerPoint presentations, writing articles, making flyers, documents, posters… Anything that tapped my creative side and put my ideas to paper.

Read More: https://www.brightspacecoaching.com/blog/find-your-passion

Over the past few years, the U.S. job market has gone bonkers. Just last year, about 4 million Americans changed jobs each month! Maybe you’re one of those people who started a new job recently—or you’re thinking about taking the leap and making a career change. No matter if you found a new role on purpose or embraced the next opportunity after an unexpected layoff, it’s normal to feel anxious about your new job, your new colleagues, your new home—all of it. I call this new job anxiety. If you want to learn effective ways to deal with new job anxiety, keep reading.

Defining New Job Anxiety

New job anxiety is simply your body trying to get your attention about the uncertainty, vulnerability and plain old fear about a new job, new people and new environments. It can feel like worry or dread, or it can feel like a racing heart, racing thoughts or racing speech. It’s important to note that it isn’t an official medical diagnosis—but anxiety is. And anxiety can be triggered by starting a new job. That’s why it’s called new job anxiety.

Whenever you’re heading into the unknown—like a new job—the anxiety you feel is simply your body’s way of keeping you safe and on guard. So, when you think about all that comes with getting a new job—meeting and working with people you don’t know, learning the ropes of a new position, and maybe even moving to an entirely different place for work—it’s normal and completely understandable for you to feel anxiety.

Symptoms of Anxiety

Anxiety after getting a new job is to be expected. Any feelings of nervousness and anticipation in a new job—symptoms of anxiety—can show up in physical, psychological and behavioral ways. What are some of the symptoms of new job anxiety? Signs to look out for include:

• Imposter syndrome
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Stomachaches
• Racing heart
• Sweaty palms
• Ringing ears
• Feeling hot or clammy
• Tight chest

Maybe you’ve experienced several of these symptoms before or after starting a new job. Again—these symptoms and sensations are normal responses to a new and uncertain situation. And if you’re wondering how long new job anxiety should last, I have good news and bad news. The good news is, there’s no timeline for simply “getting over” the anxiety of working at a new place—it might not last very long. The bad news is, there’s no timeline, so it could also last longer than you expected. For one person, it might last just the first day or week on the job. For someone else, it could take a few months for the new job jitters to ease up enough for them to feel comfortable with their responsibilities and new team (especially if they’re leaving a traumatic job situation, like a hostile work environment).

Read More: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/personal-growth/new-job-anxiety

The evolution of virtual meetings has fundamentally transformed the way we connect and collaborate. In this new landscape, the traditional water cooler chats and in-person introductions have been replaced by digital interfaces and video calls.

While the convenience of these virtual meetings is undeniable, they sometimes lack the personal touch and camaraderie found in face-to-face interactions.

That’s where icebreakers come in.

In this article, we explore 15 icebreakers for virtual meetings that are ideal for online interactions and offer distinctive avenues for building rapport, encouraging engagement, and creating a positive atmosphere.

Virtual Icebreakers Defined

Icebreakers are short, interactive activities designed to foster connections, alleviate tension, and infuse energy into virtual gatherings.  They serve a similar purpose as traditional in-person icebreakers but are tailored for the digital environment.

Virtual icebreakers help break the initial awkwardness or tension in online meetings and help employees feel more connected, even when not in the same physical location.

Benefits of Icebreakers for Virtual Meetings

Icebreaker games for virtual meetings offer several benefits which can help create a more engaging and productive virtual environment:

• Foster Connection: Icebreakers help employees get to know each other as individuals. This deeper understanding can lead to stronger connections, empathy, and team cohesion, even when working remotely.
• Reduce Tension and Anxiety: Virtual meetings can be daunting, especially for introverted or new team members. Icebreakers help create a relaxed and inclusive atmosphere, reducing tension and making everyone feel more at ease.
• Enhance Engagement: By adding an element of fun and interactivity, icebreakers can motivate employees to actively engage in the meeting, contributing more effectively and staying attentive throughout.
• Build Trust: Sharing personal stories or participating in activities that require vulnerability can build team members’ trust. This trust is fundamental for collaboration and problem-solving.
• Improved Communication: Many icebreakers involve communication, which can help improve employees’ virtual communication skills. This is especially beneficial in remote work settings where clear communication is critical.
• Alleviates Boredom: Virtual meetings can sometimes become monotonous and lead to decreased focus. Icebreakers provide a refreshing break from the routine, helping employees stay alert and engaged.

Read More: https://careersidekick.com/15-icebreakers-for-virtual-meetings/

“Small wins are a way of practicing how to be more effective, but also how to savor life.” — Charles Duhigg, author of “The Power of Habit”

Whether you’re striving to achieve a big project milestone or simply looking to create a sense of accomplishment in your daily routine, the Daily Wins Habit can help you stay focused, motivated, and on track towards your goals.

What is the Daily Wins Habit?

It is a productivity and goal-setting tool from Agile Results. It involves prioritizing three achievable wins each day, with the aim of channeling your energy and attention towards what truly matters.

By practicing the Daily Wins Habit, you can rise above the noise and distractions of daily life, create clarity in your day, and infuse meaning into your to-do list.

The Daily Wins Habit is a versatile tool that can be applied to all aspects of life, from personal goals to professional projects, and can help you stay focused, motivated, and on track towards your goals.

How To Practice the Daily Wins Habit

I’m going to explain how to do this with email, but you can use pen and paper or any digital notetaking method you prefer.

Here’s how it works:

1. Each morning, write yourself a new email titled “Today.”
2. In the email, list your three wins for the day at the top. These should be specific and achievable goals that will help you feel accomplished at the end of the day.  You find your three wins for today, by simply asking yourself, “What are my 3 Wins for Today?”
3. Below your wins, list any appointments or meetings you have scheduled for the day. This helps you orient yourself to your schedule and gives you a sense of how your day might go.
4. Next, make a simple to-do list of tasks you need to accomplish that day.
5. Finally, under a “Reminders” heading, list out anything that’s on your mind that you don’t want to forget.

This process should take no more than 3-5 minutes, but it’s an incredibly effective way to “design your day” and start in a mindful way. By identifying your wins for the day, you’ll have a clear sense of what you want to accomplish, and you’ll be better equipped to deal with distractions and stressors that come up throughout the day.

Even if you never look at the email again, the act of organizing your thoughts and goals for the day can be incredibly empowering. And if you do start to feel overwhelmed, you can always check your email again to remind yourself of your wins and regain your focus.

Read More: https://gettingresults.com/daily-wins-habit/

If you’d like your organization to succeed, you must foster mutual trust between all team members. But this is easier said than done. Only 1 out of 5 HR and engagement leaders believe their employees deeply trust company leaders, and 50 percent of employees said they don’t think HR is trustworthy.

Trust is essential for in-person teams and remote workers. Without it, any employee is likely to be less motivated and productive. In fact, workers at high-trust companies report 74 percent less stress, exhibit 50 percent higher productivity, and experience 40 percent less burnout.

How To Build Trust in the Workplace

Here are nine of the best strategies for fostering an environment of trust in the workplace.

Listen First

Your employees are unique individuals who have their own ideas and viewpoints. Ask them to speak their mind, and when they do, genuinely listen. This is the foundation for positive workplace relationships built on mutual understanding and trust.

To improve your listening skills, it’s a good idea to engage in active listening training. This involves making a deliberate effort to ask your employees questions and encourage them to elaborate more so you can truly understand what they’re trying to communicate. There are opportunities to listen every day. For instance, set aside some time in meetings for employees to discuss their work experience and how they’re feeling. Remember that you should be ready to listen to both positive and negative feedback, and that you need to demonstrate you’re open to their feedback whether you agree with it or not.

Request and Act on Feedback

HR professionals and managers can’t be everywhere to capture valuable employee feedback at all times. But employees want a voice in their organization. To help them trust you, do what it takes to capture their feedback and take prompt action.

You should solicit feedback on a continuous basis: only 10 percent of employees are satisfied with yearly requests for feedback, while 64 percent want a way to provide feedback at any time. Look for a feedback solution that incorporates pulse surveys so you can frequently gather input from team members and open an always-on, employee-driven feedback channel like a workplace chatbot.

Once you gather feedback, analyze the results to identify hotspots. You can then act quickly to shore up weak areas before they become serious problems. Be sure to communicate the results to your team promptly and work with them to determine what actions you can take to improve their experience in the workplace. Building a collaborative action plan demonstrates transparency and helps employees feel valued.

Read More: https://www.achievers.com/blog/building-trust-workplace/

In our “hustle and grind” culture, there’s a thin line between being dedicated to your career and being overworked. I’m all for diligence and excellence—but not at the cost of reaching burnout. And of course, there are seasons when you have to put in extra hours to get a big project across the finish line. But life’s too short to tread water every single day. Sooner or later, you’ll start to feel like you’re drowning.

The truth is, you can make good money and do something you love without working 60–80 hours a week! Here’s how to tell if you’re being overworked so you can make a plan to change it.

Signs You’re Overworked

Being overworked can show up differently for everyone. After all, we each have a different tolerance for stress and the demands of our job. But in general, here are seven common signs of being overworked.

#1: You Have Trouble Disconnecting

In our fast-paced and wired world, we have 24/7 access to our work—it’s sitting in our pockets! Technology is completely interwoven throughout our lives, making it difficult to disconnect from the job. We’re always “on,” and—even worse—our leaders sometimes expect us to be available at all hours of the day. This constant stimulation and pressure of being on the clock makes it difficult to truly unplug and rest.

My friend and fellow Ramsey Personality Dr. John Delony explains, “You can actually become addicted to stress hormones, like cortisol and adrenaline, that your brain releases when caught up in constant stimulation.” Insane, right? We can actually become addicted to overworking because of the stress hormones it produces! But we’ve all been there. We wake up and reach for the phone, check our email obsessively, and run around with our heads spinning because we’re caught on a technological hamster wheel.

#2: Feeling Like You’re Always Behind

The ironic thing about overworking is that it makes you less productive—at work and at home. When you spread yourself too thin, you can’t focus on anything that lights you up and fills your tank. And when your job requires extra time and attention, you can fall behind in other important areas of your life: physically, relationally, spiritually. You may no longer have the energy to hit the gym or be able to enjoy a deep conversation over dinner. And maybe even going to church on Sunday can feel like a drag. If you no longer enjoy activities that keep you feeling balanced and well, this vicious cycle of overworking can make keeping up with even basic, everyday tasks impossible.

#3: Your Health Is Declining

Your body will send signals that you’re overworking, whether your mind pays attention or not. Are you experiencing these common physical symptoms of overwork?

• Exhaustion, brain fog and difficulty concentrating
• Stress—feeling tense and on edge
• Anxiety or depression
• Weight gain or loss and poor eating habits
• Insomnia or oversleeping in your free time
• Body aches and mysterious pains

Listen to your gut. Let your body speak for itself—it’s trying to warn you! If you’re feeling one or many of these symptoms, it’s time to pay attention. At first, you might not think this is a big deal. But over time, you could develop some serious issues, like heart disease.1 And increased stress can lead to harmful addictions like alcoholism.

4. You’re Counting The Hours

There’s an objective measuring stick to figure out if you’re overworked: how many hours you put in each week. Sadly, 50-, 60- and even 80-hour workweeks are the norm in many work cultures.

There are always exceptions—I get it. You might be a teacher who puts in more than 40 hours every week for long stretches of time. Or maybe you’re a medical resident with a grueling schedule for the next couple of years. The point is, a healthy balance between work, recreation, relationships and rest is essential for long-term happiness and productivity. An 80-hour workweek just isn’t compatible with a well-rounded life.

Read More: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/career-advice/signs-that-you-are-overworked