Thursday, November 28, 2019

Youll never believe what iconic summer fashion trend is now office appropriate

Youll never believe what iconic summer fashion trend is now office appropriateYoull never believe what iconic summer fashion trend is now office appropriateThere are things you can always look forward to in the summer. The weather, permission to eat ice cream at any time of day, beach time and a more casual, laid back type of dressing. For many people in the summer, a pair of cutoff denim shorts is as dressy as they get. Another casual summer staple? The tie-dye shirt.Though many people associate tie dye with those participating in hippie fashion in the 1960s, the process of tie-dye actually dates all the way back to the 8th century in Japan and Indonesia. It emerged in the US in the 1920s as a means for people to redecorate old items in their house by using cotton, coffee, flour and sugar when money was scarce during The Great Depression. But, of course, tie-dye really had its fashion moment during the 1960s when hippies embraced it as a protest against more subdued, normal clothes (after all, no tie-dye shirts are exactly the same therefore expressing individuality which the hippies were all about) with music icon Janis Joplin acting as the poster child for the aesthetic.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreThey fell a bit out of fashion as the years went on but they still always remained a staple in certain musical genres and certainly for summer apparel. And now the fashion Gods have decided they are all the rage in the summer of 2019. Tie-dye was featured on the runways of Prada, Proenza Schouler, and Stella McCartney last season andthe shopping appLiketoKnow.itreported that the searches for tie-dye shirts were up 900% in June compared to May.But there is no way that tie-dye, the uniform of people who sell weed at Grateful Dead concerts, can be worn in an office? Or is there?Believe it or not, tie-dye is having a high fashion moment which means beautiful a nd expensive blouses, like this one, are available. Or if you are feeling really bold, you could opt for a tie-dye suit like this one. Or why not pair a tie-dye blazer with black jeans? Or pair a tie-dye top with a neutral colored blazer so your shirt makes a statement? Think of it as grown-up tie-dye. Youll feel like you are an outdoor concert while you are sitting at your desk.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Get Tips on How to Support Your First-Time Manager

Get Tips on How to Support Your First-Time ManagerGet Tips on How to Support Your First-Time ManagerThe hard work of developing a new manager begins, not ends, at the time of the promotion. Unfortunately, too many senior managers get this entirely wrong. They identify an individual with leadership potential, extend a promotion, fund a training course and then proceed to disappear, leaving the first-time manager to flail and often fail. This flawed formula is painful for all individuals involved and costly for the organization. Sadly, this process is repeated over and over again in our organizations. When addressing this issue in workshops and coaching programs, a number of common themes emerge, including First-time managers often describe being left to sink or swim in their new role. Armed with little context for the challenges of directing and developing others, the rookie managers frequently resort to morale killing micro-managing and dictatorial practices.Senior managers often des cribe believing that on the job training is the best and only way to learn how to manage others. They cite their own experience in being tossed into the fire in their first management role.New managers almost universally describe wanting more coaching, feedback, and feed-forward to sttze learning. Team members of unguided first-time managers express significant frustration over the aberrant behaviors and styles of their rookie bosses. Theywish that observation, coaching, and on-going training were parte of the start-up process for their new manager. Put an End to This Slipshod Approach to Developing New Leadership Talent. If you are involved in identifying and managing first-time supervisors or managers, your commitment to the following mentoring and coaching activities will significantly reduce the odds of first-time manager burnout. Remain Involved, Regardless of Other Pressing Priorities This point is critical. The success or failure of this individual is your responsibi lity. They are a reflection of you and your leadership, and you owe it to yourself, the new manager and the extended team to do everything in your power to help the start-up process succeed. Challenge the New Manager Early to Define Leadership Approach and Values A powerful question I repeat regularly and that works perfectly here At the end of your time with this team, what do you want them to say that you did? I love the practice of challenging managers at all levels to articulate what they stand for and what they want to be known for. While our perspectives change over time, running this activity with a first-time manager forces him/her to articulate their early leadership philosophy and values. Observe the New Manager and Offer Timely, Behavioral Feedback and Feed-Forward Nothing beats observation over a variety of settings to develop an understanding of where an individual is succeeding and struggling. While you do not want to have to be present constantly, a blend of p lanned and spontaneous observations will help you offer meaningful feedback and coaching guidance. Extend Training Programs Beyond the Classroom and Into the Workplace Too often, the learning ends with the training program. Work hard to help your manager implement, apply and extend the trainingbeyond the actual event. Encourage the individual to develop and present you with a post-program action-plan. Remember to review progress against the plan in your regular coaching sessions. Meet New Managers Team Members One-On-One to Gauge Reactions This idea is often controversial. It should not be. Make it clear to your new manager that you will continue to talk with his/her team members and that you will listen carefully to their perspectives for hints on potential strengths and gaps. Be certain to let your manager know that you will not use this input to pass judgment, but rather to help identify additional areas for observation and possible coaching. Meet Regularly With Your N ew Manager and Use Questions, Not Statements to Promote Reflectionand Learning How are you doing?Whats working?Whats not?What is the most difficult part of the new role for you?How do you perceive people are responding to you?Why?What do you think you should do about it?What will you do differently the next time? Enlist an Experienced Peer-Manager to Serve as a Sounding Board for New Manager Your involvement isnt priceless, however, it helps if the new manager has a peer to discuss difficult issues and share experiences. Challenge Your New Manager With a Series of Increasingly Difficult Assignments As your manager displays competence at the fundamentals, ramp up the scale and scope of the challenges. Ask the new manager to lead an initiative to solve a particular problem. Later, ask the manager to form and coach but not lead a team in pursuit of a particular issue. Timely and deliberate exposure to increasingly difficult challenges will turbocharge development and help identi fy additional strengths and gaps. Give the New Manager an out During the First Year. Not everyone is cut out to manage. If you or both of you decide it is not working, provide an exit path and allow the individual to return to a contributor role. The promotion should never be a prison or life sentence. Nor should this developmental initiative cost you a good employee. The Bottom-Line for Now Developing the leadership talent on your team and in your firm offers a remarkable return on investment. Prioritize your efforts accordingly.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Life lessons from a psychiatrist whos been listening to peoples problems for decades

Life lessons from a psychiatrist whos been listening to peoples problems for decadesLife lessons from a psychiatrist whos been listening to peoples problems for decadesHow you approach life says a lot about who you are.As I get deeper into my late 30s I have learned to focus more on experiences that bring meaning and fulfillment to my life.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreI try to consistently pursue life goals that will make me and my closest relations happy a trait that many individuals search for their entire lives.Nothing gives a person inner wholeness and peace like a distinct understanding of where they are going, how they can get there, and a sense of control over their actions.Seneca once said, Most powerful is he who has himself in his own power.No people can be truly happy if they do not feel that they are choosing the curse of their own life, states theWorld Happiness Report 2012. The report also found that having this freedom of choice is one of the six factors that explain why some people are happier than others.In his best-selling first book,Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart Thirty True Things You Need to Know Now,Dr Gordon Livingston, a psychiatrist whos been listening to peoples problems for decades, revealed thirty bedrock truths about life, and how best to live it.In his capacity as a psychiatrist, Dr Livingston listened to people talk about their lives and the many ways people induced unhappiness on themselves. In his book, he brings his insight and wisdom to the subjects of happiness, fear and courage.Lifes two fruchtwein important questions are Why? and Why not? The trick is knowing which one to ask. Acquiring some understanding of why we do things is often a prerequisite to change. This is especially true when talking about repetitive patterns of behavior that do not serve us well. This is what Socrates meant when he said, The unexamined li fe is not worth living. That more of us do not take his advice is testimony to the hard work and potential embarrassment that self-examination implies.Most people operate on autopilot, doing the same things today that didnt work yesterday. They rarely stop to measure the impact of their actions on themselves and others, and how those actions affect their total well-being.They are caught in a cycle.And once you get caught in the loop, it can be difficult to break free and do something meaningful.Past behavior is the most reliable predictor of future behavior.If your daily actions and choices are making you unhappy, make a deliberate choice to change direction. No matter how bleak or desperate a situation may appear to look, you always have a choice.People often come to me asking for medication. They are tired of their sad mood, fatigue, and loss of interest in things that previously gave them pleasure. Their days are routine unsatisfying jobs, few friends, lots of boredom. They feel cut off from the pleasures enjoyed by others.Here is what I tell them The good news is that we have effective treatments for the symptoms of depression the bad news is that medication will not make you happy. Happiness is not simply the absence of despair. It is an affirmative state in which our lives have both meaning and pleasure.In general we get, not what we deserve, but what we expect, he says.Most people know what is good for them, they know what will make them feel better. They dont avoid meaningful life habits because of ignorance of their value, but because they are no longer motivated to do them, Dr Livingston found. They are waiting until they feel better.Frequently, its a long wait, he says.Life is too short to wait for a great day to invest in better life experiences.Most unhappiness is self-induced, Dr Livingston found.The three components of happinessare something to do, someone to love, and something to look forward to. Think about it. If we have useful work, sustain ing relationships, and the promise of pleasure, it is hard to be unhappy. I use the term work to encompass any activity, paid or unpaid, that gives us a feeling of personal significance. If we have a compelling avocation that lends meaning to our lives, that is our work, says Dr Livingston.Many experiences in life that bring happiness are in your control. The more choices you are able to exercise, and control, the happier you are likely to be.Happiness is an inside job. Dont assign anyone else that much power over your life, says Mandy Hale.Many people wait for something to happen or someone to help them live their best lives. They expect others to make them happy. They think they have lost the ability to improve their lives.The thing that characterizes those who struggle emotionally is that they have lost, or believe they have lost, their ability to choose those behaviors that will make them happy, says Dr Livingston.You are responsible for your own life experiences, whether you a re seeking a meaningful life or a happy life.If you expect others to make you happy, you will always be disappointed.You can consistently choose actions that could become everyday habits. It takes time, but its an investment that will be worth your while.Virtually all the happiness-producing processes in our lives take time, usually a long time Learning new things, changing old behaviors, building new relationships, raising children. This is why patience and determination are among lifes primary virtues,Most people are stuck in life because of fear. Fear of everything outside their safe zones. Your mind has a way of rising to the occasion. Challenge it, and it will reward you.Your determination to overcome fear and discouragement constitutes the only effective antidote to that feeling on unhappiness you dont want.Dr. Livingston explains.The most secure prisons are those we construct for ourselves.I frequently ask people who are risk-averse, What is the biggest chance you have ever t aken? People begin to realize what safe lives they have chosen to lead.Everything we are afraid to try, all our unfulfilled dreams, constitute a limitation on what we are and could become. Usually it is fear and its close cousin, anxiety, that keep us from doing those things that would make us happy. So much of our lives consists of broken promises to ourselves. The things we long to do?- ?educate ourselves, become successful in our work, fall in love?- ?are goals shared by all. Nor are the means to achieve these things obscure. And yet we often do not do what is necessary to become the people we want to be.As you increasingly install experiences of acceptance, gratitude, accomplishment, and feeling that theres a fullness in your life rather than an emptiness or a scarcity, you will be able to absprache with the issues of life better.Closing thoughtsDr. Livingstons words feel true and profound.The real secret to a happy life is selective attention, he says.If you choose to focus you r awareness and energy on things and people that bring you pleasure and satisfaction, you have a very good chance of being happy in a world full of unhappiness, uncertainty, and fear.This article first appeared on Medium.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people