5 Ways to Deal With Weve Always Done it That Way at Work - The Muse

5 Ways to Deal With Weve Always Done it That Way at Work - The Muse5 Ways to Deal With Weve Always Done it That Way at WorkMany people say that the phrase This is how weve always done it contains the seven most expensive words in business. And, in many cases, thats true. We know that past success is no guarantee for the future, especially when the only constant is change.But, that doesnt stop many workplaces from being completely resistant to new ideas. And, if youre currently stuck in this sort of culture, you know how frustrating it can be. Whether your amtsstube is full of people who have worked there for 30 years or youre managed by a teamberater who firmly believes theres no better way to do things, your brilliant suggestions for improvement and change are constantly shut down- or worse, completely ignored. It doesnt matter if you want to restructure an entire department or simply swap out the brand of coffee in the break room. In your companys eyes, all change is bad. So, what exactly can you do if your employer immediately scoffs at the idea of tweaking anything- aside from just complaining about it? Well, here are a few steps that can help you effectively present your thoughts and (hopefully) get the gears in motion.1. Set an AppointmentIf youre working in an office thats already hesitant about switching things up, you definitely dont want to spring your ideas on your superiors without warning. Instead, set an appointment with your supervisor or management team to talk over your thoughts. This gives your boss a heads up that theres something important you want to discuss and also prevents the likelihood of your idea being dismissed as something unimportant you just said in passing. Also, remember to give timing some consideration before requesting a sit-down. If your managers already swamped, its probably not a great time to add more to his or her plate. But, if he or she is currently working on the next annual budget and your proposal involves a need f or funding, youll probably want to get your idea out on the table before the financial plan is completely finalized. 2. Come PreparedIn order to have even the slightest chance of your idea being considered, you should take extra care to ensure youve dotted all of your Is and crossed your Ts before sitting down to chat with your manager.Of course, you need to be ready to explain the benefits of your new method, as well as why its a better alternative than the process your employers currently using. In addition, you should also be armed and ready with all of the nitty-gritty details of your genius idea. What will the implementation of this new approach look like? Will it require additional dollars from the budget? What departments are involved?Eloquently presenting a plan thats obviously well thought out and researched will show your boss that this is something youve put a lot of time and energy into- not just an off-the-cuff idea that youre hoping will make your job easier. 3. Be Rea dy to Be Met With ResistanceYou already know how your office feels about change, so you should be mentally prepared to meet some resistance from your superiors.First, understand that their hesitancy to try something new isnt necessarily irrational. After all, many people subscribe to the If its not broke, dont fix it philosophy. So, its important to explain that while youre aware the current method works, there are a few ways in which you think you could improve it. Emphasizing the benefits of your idea- rather than just simply venting about the shortfalls of the existing procedure- will hopefully start to show your superiors the light.Keep in mind that while you want to highlight the pros of your suggestion, that doesnt mean you should completely glaze over any potential cons. After all, your audience will likely be more than willing to point them out for you. 4. Follow UpSo, youve made it through the tough part of explaining your entire suggestion for improvement. While youd love to be met with an enthusiastic, What a great idea Lets do it response, you know better. If youre lucky enough to not have your proposal shot down immediately, youll likely be asked to let your superiors have some time to think and talk it over.Yes, you should definitely give upper management a chance to chew on your ideas without you constantly pestering them for an answer. But, dont hesitate to follow up with your supervisor after a week or two. Theres a big difference between having your idea considered and having it fall completely off the radar. Even if your ideas eventually rejected, follow up is still key. So, if your boss informs you that the teams decided not to move forward, dont be afraid to ask for any feedback or an explanation. That valuable input could help you better present your ideas in the future.5. Stay PositivePerhaps you did an amazing job outlining your new idea- but, it was still shot down. I know thats incredibly exasperating and disheartening, and youre allo wed to feel a little glum for a minute. But, if youre going to attempt to thrive in this stagnate work culture, you need to bounce back and stay positive.Easier said than done, right? After all, working in an environment where you dont feel heard or appreciated is a surefire morale deflator. However, make an effort to focus on the parts of your position that you really do like. If necessary, you can also find alternative outlets where you can channel your innovative energy. Perhaps you can volunteer your time with a local nonprofit or take on a freelance project that challenges and inspires you. No, it wont change your companys stubborn attitude. But, it will grant you a place where you can give your inventive muscles some exercise- at least until you can find a new job. Yes, being a part of a work culture that is intolerant or defiant against change presents some definite challenges. So, its important to be adequately prepared when presenting your new ideas- and using these steps s hould help you do just that Even if your suggestion is still turned down in the long run, you can rest easy with the knowledge that you tried your absolute hardest to get the green light. Photo of old-fashioned man courtesy of Shutterstock.

7 Ways to Prove Your Worth on Your Resume

7 Ways to Prove Your Worth on Your Resume 7 Ways to Prove Your Worth on Your Resume I just read a great deutsche post ag by Jonathan Fields over on AwaketheWheel about the 7 types of proof clients/customers need before they will buy a product or service. And as I was reading, it struck me that his advice also applies to resume writing. All too often you read things like looking for a job is a marketing campaign and your resume is a marketing document, but perhaps its hard to know how to translate that vague principle into a new resume or job search plan.Jonathans post gave me a chance to come up with some practical tips for doing just that. So heres how you can turn your resume into a powerful marketing document using his time-tested schlussverkauf principles.Actual Proof/Track RecordThe best assurance that youll add value in the future is showing that you have added value in the past. So emphasize results all the way through your resume. Dont just say you have an excellent track rec ord of revenue and profit growth Prove it Provide specifics. Pepper your resume with numbers. (And if the actual numbers are confidential, use percentages).Here is an example of a resume that demonstrates an excellent track record and does it in a way that draws attention to the results. The key is in pulling out the results and bolding them. Note this strategy only works if you have excellent results in every sttte.PedigreeJonathan says If you have any specialized training, degree, certification, license or other accreditation or qualification, share that pedigree as another touch point that demonstrates you know what youre doing. This applies to your resume just as much as to selling a product and its important to stress that pedigree upfront and not wait until the end of the resume for people to figure it out. This next resume is a perfect example. Because of the nature of my clients profession, he wasnt able to provide revenue or sales growth numbers. But he had an excellent pedigree and so we focused on that in his resume introduction. (This resume secured him his dream job and the secret is in that pedigree.)Authority EndorsementIf you have worked with influential people whose names are well-known in your industry, ask them for a reference. Dont be shy about this A recent client who worked in the video game industry provided me with a glowing reference from the guy who designed one of the worlds best-selling video games. We used that reference prominently in his resume and cover letter by quoting the best few lines from it.Another way to use authority endorsement on your resume is to highlight awards you have won (for recent graduates, scholarships or school honors work just as well). Awards are solid evidence that someone in authority liked your work. Here is an example of a resume that uses awards as a primary sales pitch for the client.Celebrity EndorsementThis is Jonathans fourth point and when it comes to product marketing, we all know its true. Its unlikely that you can get Tiger Woods or Bruce Springsteen to endorse your candidacy for that accounting job and also unlikely that their recommendation would hold much sway That said, I often use a version of this tactic when working with people in entertainment-related fields. if you can drop the fact that you have worked with names like Jay-Z, Lady Gaga or Oprah Winfrey into your resume, you probably will get more interviews. Partly because the fact you have worked at such a high-level suggests you are good at what you do, and partly because some people will just want to know what their favorite singer is like. (Hey, you use what you can)If you actually know a celebrity whose testimonial would add value, then go ahead and use them. Here is an example, where we used a testimonial from a US senator on the resume of a political cartoonist.Another version of the celebrity endorsement is to drop the names of major companies or products . If you worked for top fortune 500 companie s, or on several very successful products, name-drop those right at the departure of your resume.Social ProofWhen selling a product, marketers often use testimonials from other users to convince you that the product is worth buying. You can do the same on your resume. Pull quotes from performance reviews, reference letters or LinkedIn testimonials and use them on your resume. One piece of advice though choose testimonials that sound personal, believable and that are specific to skills needed in your target positions. Dont choose generic or bland quotes. If its important to be highly organized in your next job, then choose a quote that speaks to that. And if it does it in a funny or interesting way, even betterI recently had a client whose manager said I continue to be disappointed with Sarahs inability to clone herself. I loved that We used it right upfront in her resume and I bet it has been a big talking point in her interviews.Heres a resume that uses one quote prominently a qu ote that focuses on exactly the skills needed for success as a video game producer.Theoretical /Logical ProofIn some cases, you are the logical fit for the position but dont have awards or numbers or degrees or quotes to prove it. In that case, just lay out the case for yourself in simple, clear and straightforward terms. For example, if a company is looking for a Project Manager to develop embedded software, you could just headline your resume Senior project manager with 12 years of experience developing embedded software. Simple but effectiveMetaphorical ProofJonathan describes metaphorical proof this wayHere, you create an anecdote in the style of a metaphor where a person in a story endures a struggle or experiences a need or pain very similar to what your typical prospective buyer would experience. You set-up the problem and demonstrate the pain, then show how that person resolved their pain and solved their problem using your product, service or solution.But how do you tell st ories like this on a resume? Simple just develop action-packed bullet points that demonstrate how you have solved problems/capitalized on opportunities for other employers. Check out this resume to see an example. Notice how we set up the situation for her first position (niche site with no room for growth) and then use the bullet points to tell stories about how she solved those problems.When employers read stories like these, they can abflug to imagine how you would make an impact on their company, solve their problems, capitalize on their opportunities.In SummaryUse as many of these different strategies as you can on your resume and you will immediately see a difference in the response rate. What works for selling toothpaste works equally well for selling you

Heres how to make Wednesday, July 4 a mini-vacation

Heres how to make Wednesday, July 4 a mini-vacationHeres how to make Wednesday, July 4 a mini-vacationWe feel your pain, vacation-starved friends. Independence Day is on a Wednesday this year, and all of our long weekend trip dreams are ruined by the awkward day off in the middle of the week. Like, why, America? Why? Jokes aside, we have the lowdown on how to celebrate July 4 if you cant spare any vacation days.Its all about those staycation day trips and, of course, fireworks. Heres whats on our agenda in nine major cities across the United States.New York City, New YorkDay TripEven if you cant make it to the Hamptons, you can still manage a pretty great beach outing from the city. The Rockaways are our beach of choice in NYC. If you want to soak up the sun with a whole bunch of city dwellers, stay near the boardwalk.If you want quiet, head to Fort Tilden (you can rent a bike on the Rockaway boardwalk and ride on over).FireworksEast River between 19th and 47th streets or Coney Islan dLos Angeles, CaliforniaDay Trip Lets say you dont want to deal with the traffic leaving Silver Lake and heading toward the ocean. We get it. Instead, head the opposite direction to Joshua Tree National Park. This is a special occasion after all. Save Santa Monica for when tourists are in town.Fireworks Grand Park or Griffith ObservatoryAustin, TexasDay Trip You know you want to get on the water. So we think Lake Travis 60 miles of blue depths (the limestone bottom of the lake means it always looks that clear) and watersports will satisfy your need to hop in a canoe or kayak or on a jet ski.Fireworks Vic Mathias ShoresChicago, IllinoisDay Trip The Midwests biggest city is bustling, so take it a little slower in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Its got more than 60 breweries and adorable coffee shops all within a short walk through the citys downtown. Just make sure to bring a designated driver so you can make it back to Chi-Town in time for fireworks and work the next day.Fireworks Navy Pier Atlanta, GeorgiaDay Trip The Beltline will be pretty packed on the Fourth, so we think you should take to the mountains and hit the Appalachian Trail instead. You can get onto the iconic paths trailhead just a couple hours outside the city and enjoy lush green alpine landscapes.Fireworks International PlazaBoston, MassachusettsDay Trip We cant promise there wont be crowds also heading to Kennebunkport, but we can promise that youll eat your fill of seafood in the seaside town in Maine. When youre not devouring lobster rolls, you can enjoy the ocean spray and a walk along the shore.Fireworks Charles River EsplanadeSan Francisco, CaliforniaDay Trip Sure, Napa would be nice, but you know whats even better? wellenreiten in Santa Cruz. Or even just dipping a toe in the surf. Save the wine tasting for when the sun isnt so strong. The coastline is gorgeous here and youll be able to chill for the day while catching some waves.Fireworks Fishermans WharfWashington, D.C.Day Trip If all the tou rists coming into town for Independence Day are overwhelming to you, you can skip out for the day and head to Ocean City, Maryland. The wide open sandy beaches here will make you forget about the daytime crowds around the National Mall.Fireworks National MallSeattle, WashingtonDay Trip Hop on the ferry from Seattle and be in the Pacific Northwest wilderness within just a couple hours at the San Juan Islands. If youre lucky, you can spot wildlife in the archipelago or simply enjoy the views of the Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges.Fireworks Gas Works ParkNow that you have a handle on 2018s plans, we have some good news there wont be another July 4 on a Wednesday until 2029. Phew.This article was originally published on Swirled.com.