workplace dynamics

Why you should let your emotions flow, even at work.

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Most of us have been told to put our emotions aside at work and be all-business, all the time. Women tend to hear this message more often than their male counterparts, regularly being told they are being "too emotional" when it comes to high-stress situations, differences of opinion, high-stakes business matters, or even when they are just having a bad day. But no matter our gender, for the most part, the only emotions employers hope for or want to see in the workplace is happiness. Happy workers lead to productivity and overall success for the company, right?

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Yes and no. Happiness is certainly important, both on a personal and professional level. Without feeling a sense of satisfaction, a person's well-being as well as their workplace performance is sure to suffer. Yet happiness is so much more complex than an outward cheery disposition and a plastered-on smile.

As per Business Insider, "Happiness is not just about developing positive emotions, it has two other constituent parts: purpose and resilience. Having a clear and meaningful purpose is a key element in sustaining long-term happiness."

A large part of our purpose is what we do with our lives and how we feel about doing it. What we do for a living makes up a great portion of most people's sense of purpose, and even if we are happy in the general sense, having the ability to deal effectively with our other emotions will help us maintain and even increase this sense of contentment. Like Business Insider puts it, "Developing resilience is the third highly essential component of happiness, as it enables us to deal effectively with negative emotions when they arise."

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That is why we must allow ourselves to embrace our emotions – even at work – to remain, or even become happy, as well as a useful force in the workplace. Bottling up negative emotions will not lead to happiness – just the opposite. Workers may become frustrated, temperamental, or no longer have the drive to put in much effort. Not only should we be able to identify our own emotions, but those of the people around us as well, known as emotional intelligence.

As per Psychology Today, emotional intelligence includes three skills, "Emotional awareness; the ability to harness emotions and apply them to tasks like thinking and problem solving; and the ability to manage emotions, which includes regulating your own emotions and cheering up or calming down other people." This intuitive behavior is what makes working with others impactful and successful. In fact, TalentSmart notes, "People with a high degree of emotional intelligence make more money—an average of $29,000 more per year than people with a low degree of emotional intelligence."

Not to mention, emotions are what makes us human. With so much technology being developed and perfected every day, computers, robots, Artificial Intelligence, and the like are taking over roles people used to be required to manage. According to Business Insider, "Many indicators suggest that jobs of the future will require much more emotional intelligence to complement the sophisticated machines we work with. As more and more jobs are automated, the nature of the value that humans will add will evolve to focus around creativity, connectivity with others and self-fulfillment."

We need to stay aware of and connected to our emotions and learn how to handle them effectively and appropriately, even in the workplace setting. Not every day will be perfect, or even close to it, and it is OK to allow ourselves to feel it. When we can work through these feelings to arrive at a place of satisfaction once again, we will be better people and valued employees. So, do not take your emotions lightly. And never dismiss the feelings of those you work with either.

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By understanding and accepting our own and one another's emotions, we will all be happier for it.

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3 Perks of Working the Night Shift

Most of us work the typical 9-to-5, waking up at sunrise and going to sleep as dusk sets in.

It makes sense due to our natural body rhythms and the way the majority of the working world tends to run. But there are plenty of jobs and careers where a night shift is necessary and available. Think nurses, security guards, convenience store employees, and bartenders, to name a few.

Often known as the "graveyard shift," working during these wee hours of the night isn't for everyone... the nickname doesn't help. Then again, are those night owls who thrive on being active and productive past midnight, but most people prefer to be fast asleep as the moon and stars make their nightly appearance. But if you're a morning person with a new lease on life, you may want to consider switching gears and applying for a night shift job. Working while most of the world's in a slumber has its perks, and these three may awaken your inner vampire longing to take a bite out of the nightlife!

Make More Money

A major reason most of us work is to make a living. And working the night shift can help you fatten your wallet faster than a daytime gig. As perRethink Staffing, "Night shift differential is around 10% of the employee's regular wage per hour. If you're working as support staff at night for $10 per hour, then you'll be earning a dollar more than your co-workers in the daytime." This can add up fast, making those late shifts quite profitable.

The Outsourced Accountantnotes some promising ways this dough can pay off. "Vacation trips, signing up for classes, taking on a new hobby, business, savings, and retirement," all cost money, and with the night differential, these things will come your way before your daytime counterparts reap the rewards.

Avoid Traffic

There are few things as aggravating than sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the way to and on the way home from work. Getting in late always causes issues and wasting time on the highway when it could be spent with family is a drag. Opting for the nightshift will get you to and from work in a jiffy – road rage- and stress-free.

As per The Outsourced Accountant, "There's significantly less traffic at night. Since most people are headed home, you're more likely to have a more breezy (and faster) commute to work because you're going the opposite way. And because you're not chasing cabs or buses or jostling your way inside trains, you won't be disheveled when you come to the office. You'll look and feel a lot fresher." Fast and fresh, sounds appealing.

Career Addict adds, "If you drive, you also save on (gas) as your driving will be more economical." So not only will you make more money, as noted in perk #1, but the low volume of traffic can save you more of it.

Fewer Interruptions

In general, there are fewer people around working the nightshift. That's why there is a high demand for people willing to take the job. And with fewer people comes fewer interruptions. This will give you more time to think clearly and get your work done productively.

According to The Outsourced Accountant, "You can get tasks finished quickly and have more time to do some advanced work or simply relax." Just think about all the time that's wasted due to gossip and office chit-chat, questions from colleagues, emails, and phone calls.

Career Addict notes another perk, "Most companies hold their meetings during the day. Working the night shift saves you time you would otherwise spend attending meetings, allowing you to pay more attention to your work."

What do you think? Can you go from early bird to night owl? These perks are tempting, so consider going to the dark side… in a good way. You may find that the night shift is just the career shift you've been looking for!

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A-Z to Success at Work – Y & Z

We've made it! The end of the alphabet, finishing up with Y and Z has come and we've run throughA – Xwith tips for success when it comes to reaching career goals and achieving dreams. From attitude to mindset to behaviors and actions, success is not such a far-fetched notion when we put our hearts and minds into creating doable plans and gearing up for attainable results.

Nobody says success comes easy, but by doing your part and giving it your best with our A – Z guide to lend a helping hand, getting there will be worth the effort once the light at the end of the tunnel is shining right before your eyes.

Here we explain how following a "YOLO" mentality and zeal are the two final steps in our advice for achieving success from A to Z.

"YOLO"

Young people (and plenty of others of all ages) have been using the acronym "YOLO" for a while now – it stands for "you only live once." We're not suggesting participating in outrageous, dangerous, or risky behavior, but when it comes to taking chances at work, YOLO may just be the way to go.

Break the mold, bust through barriers, and try new techniques when things are not moving at the pace you desire or the day-to-day work life has become stale or stagnant. Any successful person had to try something out-of-the-box in order to reach the place they stand proudly in today.

As per Huffington Post, "Great, otherwise unforeseen opportunities often come from risk-taking. Taking risks shows confidence and helps you stand out and we can learn from them. Embracing risk-taking helps you overcome a fear of failure."

Playing it safe may be a fine way to make it through the 9-to-5 grind, but tomorrow will be no different than today if you don't remind yourself that you only live once. Shake things up some and watch how new ideas and a sense of creativity emerge.

Zeal

Desire, devotion, and an appetite for enthusiasm are all success-making qualities. Without the energy to prevail and reach the top, you'll forever linger around the middle. You must love what you do so you can find purpose and passion in your work.

According toIT Managers Inbox, "You need to be motivated and driven to be the best you can be regardless of your job or your work. Regardless of your current job bringing passion to your work can lay a foundation for success."

Forbes suggests asking yourself, "What is the passion that makes you want to jump out of bed in the morning ready to take on the world? What is the passion that will help you keep going when everything around you appears to be falling apart? What is the passion that will make you want to give 110 percent of yourself, rather than putting in the minimum requirement to pick up a paycheck?

Answer those burning questions and find the path you want to blaze. Your zeal for whatever your responses are will indicate your true calling. Success will come thanks to your eagerness and excitement to achieve.

Good luck in your pursuits, no matter what they may be. These A – Z success tips will guide you, but with your own sensibilities and strength, you can, and will realize that the sky's the limit!

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A-Z Guide to Success at Work – P, Q, and R

Success comes to those who work at it. Sure, a handful of folks will get lucky and strike gold without lifting more than a finger, but for the most part, to achieve, one must put in the effort. This takes time, planning, and a special kind of work ethic, along with a go-getter, never-fail attitude.

We are going fromA – Z with tips and advice to help a success-driven individual to reach their goals in the workplace. As we move along to P, Q, and R, there are three more ways to find success with persistence, quick thinking, and valuable relationships.

Persistence

The path to success will rarely, if ever, be a straight line. Roadblocks, twists and turns, and setbacks will all be part of the journey. Giving up at the first sign of struggle is a surefire way to never make it anywhere near the rich reward of success. Persistence keeps strong people pushing, fighting odds, and overcoming obstacles.

As per Erupting Mind, "Those who are able to keep going through periods of adversity stand a much better chance of achieving something of real meaning and value in their life. You must be willing to stick with something for the long-term and avoid the tendency to view things from a short-term perspective."

Endure the hardships, resolve to work through challenges, and remain constant in your desire to succeed. Those who push themselves the hardest propel the highest.

Quick Thinking

When money and time are of the essence, which is the norm in a workplace scenario, thinking on one's feet is imperative. The person who flip-flops or is poor at decision-making can fall behind in their work and miss out on opportunities that may not come back around again.

According toIllumine, "Whether you end up on the spot while presenting a proposal, attending a meeting, or selling an idea to customers, learning to articulate your thoughts in unforeseen situations is a valuable skill. The ability to think rapidly whilst on your feet is a skill that is in very high demand in the business world. Once you have learned to master it, your sharp and relevant responses will immediately instill confidence in what you are saying."

Dell EMC adds, "There's only one combination of speed and intelligence that can bring sustainable success and that is to be both quick and clever." Quick thinking is only beneficial if the ideas are smart and useful. So along with being on the ball comes business knowledge and that "gut feeling" that assures you that you're making decisions that will benefit your role and the company as a whole.

Relationships

They say it's lonely at the top, but it doesn't have to be. Success shared with co-workers, clients, customers, etc. makes "the more, the merrier" a far better way to celebrate the fruits of hard work.

As per Entrepreneur, "Every successful executive and entrepreneur will tell you, their most important asset is their network, and they don't mean social network. They mean people they actually know and work with in real time because they're the ones that actually get things done."

Good relationships are not only personally fulfilling, but they can help a business thrive. As perMy Top Business Ideas, "If you are kind, courteous, and attentive to your customers, employees, and business associates, you will establish a good reputation for your business. And people will deem you and your business as trustworthy and experienced."

For tips on ways to build meaningful business relationships, Forbes offers sage advice that anyone can benefit from.

Stay tuned for the next installment in our A – Z series. Success gets closer with every letter!

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