How to mentally prepare for a crisis in the workplace

(BPT) - Recent events in the news have reminded us that unexpected, dangerous and stressful situations can happen anywhere: on the street corner, at the grocery store, and in the workplace. While these situations are often chaotic, there are steps you can take to mentally prepare yourself to handle them better, whether you are an employee, a business owner or manager, or a bystander.

David Levine, senior vice president of Optum's Employee Assistance Program and an expert in workplace crisis response, says that anyone can take steps ahead of time to prepare themselves and their workplace to better handle a tragic or emotionally disturbing event. He offers a few suggestions anyone can try, starting today:
* Evaluate your purpose - Those who feel they are a part of something bigger than themselves tend to exhibit higher levels of resiliency after a tragedy. Workplaces that encourage volunteerism and community involvement, promote work-life balance and encourage an individual's sense of family are positioned to nurture resiliency.

* Find ways to manage your stress - Stress can contribute to a host of health issues and can impact the way your brain works. During extreme situations, your brain moves away from abstract thinking, making even simple tasks - eating, sleeping, and solving basic math problems - difficult. If you're already in the habit of doing things to help you cope with everyday stress, such as exercise, relaxation techniques, or a hobby, that will put you at an advantage for dealing with a sudden crisis. It's also important that you don't turn to unhealthy habits as a way to cope, such as the use of nicotine, alcohol or drugs.

* Examine your relationships - Close relationships with family and friends can be invaluable at times of distress. Those with strong support networks tend to manage these challenges better and recover more quickly. By working to strengthen these relationships now, you'll have a strong support system in place to lean on in times of crisis.
For a business owner or manager, Levine says it's important to develop a crisis response plan and make sure you are familiar with its details so that in times of need, you can respond quickly and calmly.
"When developing your response plan, consult with crisis experts or your Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provider to help design a plan that fits your workplace, including a strategy for providing counseling services to employees after a crisis in order to reduce the long-term effects of mental or emotional trauma," he says. "When tragedy strikes in the workplace, the response of leadership is critical to ensuring that employees remain healthy and productive."
Levine says leaders should focus on remembering the "ACT" crisis communication process: "Acknowledge, Communicate and Transition." He says this process has been found to be helpful for individuals and organizations as they recover from a stressful situation.

* Acknowledge and name the incident - Be visible and available, and use real language that specifically describes what occurred. Acknowledge that the incident has impacted the team and you. This action can align leaders with their employees and reduce the likelihood of creating an atmosphere of blame and stagnation.

* Communicate with compassion and competence - Employees want to know that leadership cares about their safety and well-being, and is capable of leading effectively in the wake of a crisis. During these difficult times, employers and managers must "know their stuff" when it comes to the logistics of responding to a crisis, but also be able to communicate in a compassionate way. Other colleagues or a crisis expert could be helpful in providing guidance as leaders prepare to talk to their staff about what happened.

* Begin to transition - Convey an expectation of recovery to help those who are impacted make the transition to viewing themselves as a "survivor" rather than a "victim." Communicate flexible and reasonable accommodations as people progress back to "normal" life at work. Some employees will be able to immediately function at full productivity; for those who take longer to get back to normal, you can help hasten their recovery by assigning tasks that are familiar and short-term.
In business, the power of planning is a well-documented key to success - and Levine says it's no different when it comes to responding to a workplace crisis.

"While operating through a crisis will never be an easy task, taking these steps now will help make the situation - should it arise - more manageable in the future." He adds, "Whether you're an employee, manager, or bystander to a crisis, following these steps, along with knowing about your employer's critical incident policies, EAP and other support resources, will help you manage the unexpected."
For information on emotional health and dealing with crisis, visit   www.liveandworkwell.com

Article from Brand Content

Business Do's and Don'ts to Help Your Startup Succeed

(NewsUSA) - Everyone has a dream -- it's the one thing they would rather be doing more than anything else (and are sure they could succeed at). Yet, it's something entirely different from what it is they do to pay the bills. What many fail to understand, however, is that enthusiasm for a product or service may not be enough to guarantee success when starting a business. "So often, would-be entrepreneurs believe they have that one idea that will make them a millionaire, and in fact it may be a very good idea, but what they don't understand is that there's so much more involved for a business to succeed," says Heidi Ganahl, CEO of Camp Bow Wow, a dog day care franchise and boarding authority. The business saw 20 percent year-over-year growth last year in revenues across Camps (individual franchise locations), which opened pre-2011. "Unfortunately," Ganahl adds, "passion alone will not dictate or ensure success." To this end, the following do's and don'ts may help you assess whether your idea is ready: * Do your research and prepare. So often, failure comes from a lack of preparation. According to Ganahl's book "Tales From the Bark Side," every good idea must come with the right support to make it profitable, including writing a winning business proposal. Ganahl says that lending or investing individuals will only consider an investment after a thorough review of your project. * Don't go into business if you're not committed. Convinced that they have a good idea, but unprepared to be completely committed, people will try to have their feet in both the corporate world and their new business venture. If you feel the inability to put your all into your new venture, cut your losses. * Do ensure you have enough capital. Business analysts report that poor management is the main reason for business failure and that poor cash management is probably the most frequent stumbling block for entrepreneurs. Understanding the basic ideas of cash flow will help you plan for the unforeseen eventualities that face nearly every small business. * Do consider owning a franchise. With thousands of systems operating in dozens of industries, there is no shortage of choices here for the would-be entrepreneur. The down side? The plethora of choices can make that decision a challenge, so be clear about what you want, what you're willing to do and how much you need to make. For more information about franchise opportunities, visit www.campbowwow.com/franchise.

Keeping Your Bank Account Safe on the Internet

(NewsUSA) - Banking has never been easier -; you're now able to check balances and transfer money directly from a computer, or even a smartphone. However, despite precautions taken by your financial institution, online banking can be very dangerous. Cybercriminals create very sophisticated and threatening malware to target banking information for one simple reason: It's a cash cow. "It's pretty shocking how many ways cybercriminals can jeopardize or access your financial records," says Ann Biddlecom, Product Marketing Director for Kaspersky Lab, a leading developer of Internet security solutions. "For instance, if your computer or programs are infected, you could be led to a fake website posing as a legitimate site, but it hijacks your passwords and account numbers without you knowing. Or they can install a program that records the information you enter on your bank's website." More than 5,000 new malicious websites turn up every day, some of which are cleverly designed to mimic legitimate financial services websites. In fact, over a three-month period in 2012, Kaspersky Lab experts found more than 23,000 new malicious programs created to spy on your money. Studies show that 60 percent of all consumers shop and bank online, and one-third of those online shoppers store their banking details on their computers, so the risk of their financial data being intercepted has never been higher. Software like Kaspersky Internet Security has technology that can protect you, such as its Safe Money feature. This feature is designed to protect all of your financial transactions by verifying websites before launching them and restricts how other programs access your data. In addition to using software such as Kaspersky Internet Security, follow these steps to ensure you are the only person with access to your banking information: * Always decline automatic log-in for online banking sites. It's also important to never save the password for your bank on your browser. * Always remember to log out and close your browser window on your smartphone or laptop when finished with your online session. * If you receive an email from your bank asking for your account information, do not follow the link in the email. Type the URL of your bank as you normally would, or call your bank to verify the request. * Visit www.kaspersky.com to learn more about Safe Money and protecting your personal information.

Why You're Not Getting Hired

Why You're Not Getting Hired (396)
(NewsUSA) - Here's a secret -- job placement isn't a matter of inclusion, but one of elimination. In today's economy, recruiters are deluged with resumes and have to funnel them through pre-set filters designed to separate the competition. On average, a recruiter spends only 30 seconds reviewing each application, meaning if you aren't marketing your skills correctly, not only are you not getting hired, most times your application won't even be seen.
Joe Weinlick is Vice President of Marketing for Beyond.com, a career network that allows people to search thousands of jobs and manage their careers. His company connects job seekers to available positions, but stresses that the process doesn't stop there.
"Picture the hundreds of people applying for a job seated in the same auditorium," said Weinlick. "Now picture that you're one of the few standing up. Who do you think will get noticed first?"
Here are five recommendations from Beyond.com to improve your job search:
1. Play the Part. A recruiter works with the same job description that is posted online, and if you're not using the same language, a communications gap can develop. Treat the job description like your compass, and use it to guide each answer by tailoring your wording to match theirs.
2. Get Noticed. This is the hardest part, as it's difficult to stand out when others have similar qualifications. Think about your unique qualities, and lead with them. Don't wait until the end; the recruiter might never get there.
3. Get Feedback. Every time you apply for a job, strive for the perfect application. Clean up grammatical errors, cut unnecessary words, and focus on details. Send your materials to colleagues for advice, and take advantage of other resources, like a free resume critique from Beyond.com that can catch any errors.
4. Follow Protocol. Submit only what the job posting requests. This will show that you can follow directions. Don't lie about experience; rather relate the experiences you have, and show how they apply. The candidates who follow the rules and look the best throughout the process have an advantage.
5. Nail the Interview. At this point, the hardest part is over, but you're still the underdog. Be scrappy. Focus on remaining present during the interview. Research the company and your profession. Browse news outlets, like News and Advice on Beyond.com, to stay current on your profession.
To receive a free resume critique from Beyond.com, visit www.beyond.com/resources/resume-writing.

Money Matters: Why Financial Literacy Counts in High School

(NewsUSA) – Alongside English and math, high school students need more classes in financial literacy and managing their money. It’s never too early to start learning how to manage finances.Otherwise, teens embark on the college journey without knowing how to avoid debt, opt out of high interest rates or dodge exorbitant fees. 

Some students actually expect to face these types of financial hurdles because they don’t know any other way."We need to ensure students entering college are given the right financial literacy education, tools and support to make sound financial decisions while in college and beyond," said Mary Johnson, Director, Financial Literacy and Student Aid Policy at Higher One.

Higher One is a financial resource that offers banking options designed exclusively for college students. Since the company works solely with students, aid experts like Johnson have firsthand knowledge of student finances. Higher One has an even deeper level of insight as a result of their recently sponsored study called "Money Matters On Campus," which details common behaviors and attitudes about students and money management.

"Money Matters is unique because it offers specific student attitudes and behaviors on which educators and policy makers must focus and address. This report sounds the alarm that institutions must augment current financial literacy education," Johnson added.According to the survey of 40,000 first-year college students, 28.2 percent have a credit card, and 23.7 percent have more than $1,000 in debt. While it’s not surprising that more than 79 percent of students surveyed worry about debt, some other spending behaviors are alarming. Such as, 60 percent find it okay to incur an overdraft fee if they can pay it off later.

To correct these bad money habits, Higher One has partnered with educational technology company Ever Fi — who also sponsored the survey — to assess financial literacy in high school students. In 50 select schools across several states, the Higher One Financial Academy offers a web-based learning platform that will teach principles about saving, credit cards, interest rates, credit scores, taxes, insurance, investing and beyond.

Higher One provides refund disbursement, payment and data analytics services to more than 1,600 colleges nationwide. For incoming freshmen and other students attending these schools who are looking to open their first bank account, Higher One offers the perfect starter account via its bank partners that is tailored to students.As a result, accounts are transparent regarding fees and charges, and they use an educational approach that allows students to learn the ropes. Learn more about the accounts at www.myonemoney.com.

The Way You Think Is as Important as What You Think

(NewsUSA) – Change is inevitable. The status quo is untenable. Yet, few people and businesses are able to identify the real problem.
“Many people pride themselves on being able to think outside the box,” says Jim Feldman, a renowned keynote speaker, entrepreneur, consultant and author of numerous books. “To effectively answer the question, you must first start inside the box, where the true problem exists.”
According to innovation expert Feldman, making the simple complicated is easy, but making the complex simple often requires thinking “inside the box.”
Referring to “inside the box,” Feldman describes the process as “3D thinking.” He says it’s important to break the problem into smaller pieces. What is the “depth” of your knowledge? What is the “distance” to market? Do you have the “determination” to succeed?
Feldman points to an unsettling trend in customer service innovation. The shift has been to out-source services, automate billing and reduce personal attention. As a result, errors have increased.
In his blog, Feldman points out, recent experiences with AT&T and CitiMortgage.
“AT&T sent out their monthly statement, which contained several billing errors,” notes Feldman. “I called their customer service line to be placed on hold. ‘Your call is important. We are servicing other customers, please stay on the line.’ Important? No technology. No automated callback. No options that so many other companies utilize when the lines are busy. The largest communication company in the world could not communicate.”
Similarly, CitiMortgage uses representatives in the Philippines and India who do not have the ability to return calls or make decisions, and lack customer-solution commitment. To Feldman, it appears that big banks have lost interest in their customers.
“From an outside viewpoint, I am able to identify the problem from an unbiased perspective. Maybe they should engage my services,” he quips. Feldman is an expert in mastering these changes and shifts. He has assisted companies like Apple, Microsoft, Coca-Cola, Wynn Las Vegas, HP, Toyota and the U.S. Department of Defense.
“To make ‘shift happen’ you have to manage the change process itself,” he says. “The secret is not to brace yourself for change, but relax and create a better customer experience.” Performance improvements cannot become an exercise in frustration and failure, for either consumers or employees.
If you or your company need help managing change, set up a free consultation with Feldman by calling 312-527-9111. You can also visit his website at www.shifthappens.com orwww.sosthinktank.com.

Communicate To The Four Main Personality Types

You probably know this already, but there are generally held to be four main personality types, which I call: Extrovert, Amiable, Analytical and Pragmatic .

Let's take a moment to consider each of them in the workplace.
Extrovert: someone who probably has a messy desk; who leaves projects 75% completed then gets distracted by new, 'more exciting' projects; someone who communicates their ideas with enthusiasm and charm; makes instant decisions; hates 'paperwork' and the 'dull routines' of life, such as filling in order forms, checking bank statements, etc.; is usually 'fashionably late' to meetings, events and parties (and they love entertaining clients!); always has interesting screen savers.
Amiable: someone who is the 'peacemaker' in the office; is always striving for a 'win-win' in everything in life; someone who probably isn't terribly ambitious and striving, but is very happy to support and encourage others who are; someone who cannot say "No" very easily and so are probably on every committee going (whether they actually want to be or not); is more likely to make a decision on the spot if only to stop you 'hassling' them, otherwise will take weeks to make a decision (if at all, as they prefer others to make the decision for them); like to know what others are doing (in case they themselves are doing something inappropriate or foolish).
Analytical: 'GadgetMan' - has multiple PDAs in case one fails; has several computers for the same reason; adores punctuality; when they tell you they recently bought something they won't round the number up but will tell you to the exact dollar and cent how much they paid; loves playing with spreadsheets, charts and projections; will never make a decision on the spot; will buy a car based on fuel economy, servicing costs, resell value, depreciation and other factors, never 'because it's a lovely shade of blue'.
Pragmatic: a 'take charge' person; their view is the way things will probably get done; they listen to others' points of view out of courtesy or intellectual curiousity, but will still do things 'my way' ; doesn't take business rejection personally; not interested in how 'exciting' a project might be, only interested in how much money it will cost/make and how soon it can be implemented/built; very often the Pragmatic likes the colour ' Red '; doesn't have any photos of family or friends on their desk (too unprofessional); has a neat, organised desk.
Now, sales trainers have for years been pushing the line that we 'buy with emotion, and justify that purchase with logic'. But having seen a few Analyticals in my years I don't actually believe that to be the case. An accountant friend of mine in England never purchased anything because of emotion - he always poured over spec sheets from various manufacturers, weighed up the costs involved, considered his options. And because he was also part-Amiable he then let his wife make the final decision, based on his input.
Which raises an important point. No one is ever a 'pure' type. We are all a mix of the four personality types to some degree or other. Yet we also have a strong preference for one particular type.
I'm an Extrovert with a leaning towards the Analytical. I couldn't begin to count the number of my own marketing projects that I have half-completed here in my office; each one almost ready to roll but just in line behind the latest 'more exciting' idea I've just had. Yet I also love getting deep into Dreamweaver and working out how to tweak my website pages for greater speed, better search engine optimisation, tidy up loose bits of code, and so on.
But that's beside the point...
The real purpose of this page is to let you know that your business communications - whether they are email, web page, pdf brochure or even initial word of mouth introduction - need to appeals to the different needs of the four personality types.
How do you do that?
By making sure that your communication has a reasonably equal amount of the following:
* Facts and figures to appeal to the Analytical and Pragmatic
* Enthusiasm and excitement to appeal to the Extrovert
* Testimonials to appeal to the Amiable
Get that right and you have a greater chance of getting your message across.
When you match consumer psychology with effective communication styles you get a powerful combination. Lee Hopkins can show you how to communicate better for better business results. At Hopkins-Business-Communication-Traini ng.com you can find the secrets to communication success.
Available at http://www.articlub.com/management/Communicate-To-The-Four-Main-Personality-Types_22545/

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