Tips on Planning an Employee Appreciation Party

Upon first glance, a companywide employee appreciation party may seem like a complicated undertaking, but with a little careful preparation you can throw a successful and memorable event that goes off without a hitch. Here are some easy pro tips on planning a stellar employee appreciation party.

Enlist some helpers.

Going at it alone isn’t impossible but you can be surprised by how often you second guess your own decisions when planning a large event. Having a little help with your choices and getting a few extra hands to help tie up loose ends is really great place to start. Chances are you have some extremely enthusiastic and adept party planners in your staff who would love to help out and taking them on could greatly reduce any party planning stress later on.

Make a checklist.

Once you’ve elected one or two helpers, start making a check list for everything you’d like to include at your event. The most helpful list is arranged in order from what needs to be tackled right away to things that can be done last. For example, you’ll want to list picking the location for your party first while decorating for the event can be placed somewhere near the end of the list.

Pick a theme.

You don’t absolutely need to have a themed party but having an idea in place can make decisions on decorations, activities, gifts and even menu options much easier. It will help these elements look cohesive and your event as a whole look like it was planned by a pro. Your theme could center on a specific appreciation message you wish to convey or you can base it off of an activity you’d like to participate in, like a company softball tournament or relay race. If you prefer a more formal event, a charity based theme complete with a silent auction is a popular choice. Just remember to keep your attendants in mind and pick a theme that matches the overall personality of the group.

Send Email Announcements and Updates

Once you have your date, time, venue and theme chosen you can start informing your guests. Some employers like to have all the details of the event squared away so attendees merely have to show up and enjoy themselves while others prefer to get employees involved with some of the decision making, as a way of building interest. For example, if you are a little unsure of certain activities you’d like to include or the type of cuisine you’d like to serve it may help to request opinions from your staff or let them vote when you send your initial event announcement. This will show them that you want to make sure they have the best time possible at the upcoming event. When you send updates as the event gets closer it will build anticipation and interest even further.

Plan a set schedule for the event.

Arrival times, cocktail or dinner hours, speakers, award ceremonies and the end of the event should all be laid out so you can be sure the party runs smoothly. Even if something changes at the last minute, it won’t end up derailing your entire event because the rest of the schedule has been firmly set.

Choose a thoughtful, personalized gift.

Your words of gratitude at the event will be meaningful to your guests, but a customized employee appreciation gift will serve as a tangible reminder that will reinforce those words for a long time to come. You should select a gift your employees can use often or display at home or in the office. High end tech devices, like Bluetooth speakers or power banks, as well as thoughtful keepsakes, like picture frames, are popular choices. You should include your company brand and appreciation message custom printed on every gift for an added personal touch.

Save on decorations with your gifts.

If you are hosting a sit down event you may feel obligated to decorate your tables with centerpieces, which could end up taking a big bite out of your budget. This is where you can use your employee appreciation gifts to help you save. In lieu of expensive centerpieces, you can place your gifts at each table where guests will be seated, which is just as decorative but far less wasteful.

Consider raffling off prizes.

Giving out prizes at an employee appreciation party is one way to amp up the fun factor and using a raffle or a spinning wheel will give everyone a fair shake at taking home a prize. This is a great opportunity to incorporate some big ticket items that have been branded with your company logo, but don’t fit into your budget as a gift for every single attendant.

Put together an emergency kit before the event.

Remember Murphy’s Law? Whatever can go wrong, will. It doesn’t have to ruin your event, however. Before you head to your party bring a bag that is packed with tape, scissors, a stapler, extra string or ribbon, a mini tool kit, trash bags and anything you think you might need if something should go amiss. It’s always better to be safe – and prepared – than sorry.

Follow up after the event.

Send another email announcement after the party has passed to thank everyone for attending, share pictures and fond memories and, most importantly, to ask for feedback. Keep in mind that the whole purpose for your party was to honor your hard workers, so their constructive feedback should be valued and can help you when planning for next year.

If you’re thinking of planning an employee appreciation event, you are on the right track to making sure your workforce is in top performing condition. It’s a proven fact that a happy employee who feels appreciated will be a much more productive member of your business. You want your staff members to know you are grateful for their hard work and dedication and you want them to feel content at your company, so planning an appreciation party creates a win win situation for everyone involved. Nice work! Now you just have to make it happen.

Is it Time to Breakup With Your Job?

Far too many people spend every day at a job they hate. Wondering if you should leave your job behind and move on to something new? Read on for tips that will help you make your decision.

1. You’re not in charge of your schedule.

If you’re not a morning person, you may not be accomplishing a lot in the first part of your work day. When you choose your schedule, you can base it on when your energy levels are their highest. When you don’t set your own schedule, you’re on someone else’s time table, which isn’t always conducive to great work.

2. You can’t decide what to wear.

There are few things that limit individuality as much as being required to wear a uniform. If you have to follow some sort of dress code, you may not feel free enough to really explore your creativity. It’s difficult to focus on work when you’re uncomfortable in your clothes.

3. You hope you don’t grow up to be like your boss.

If you’re trying with all your might to not become like your boss, you should ask yourself how long you plan on working for them. When you don’t respect your boss, it’s difficult to work for them day in and day out. What is it you’re working towards if you can’t stand management? If you work for someone like Shahram Shirkhani, on the other hand, you may aspire to be like them.

4. You feel drained at the end of each day.

There’s a difference between being tired after putting in a hard and productive day of work, and feeling like you’ve had the life sucked out of you by the time the clock strikes five. Whatever’s dragging you down, it’s important to pinpoint it and determine if it’s something that can change or if it’s simply the nature of the job.

5. You have no power to change anything.

If you’re not allowed to make suggestions or offer up new, more efficient methods of doing things, you probably feel stuck and shut down. A good boss and a quality company will want to have staff members who are proactive and feel comfortable making suggestions. What kind of company wouldn’t want to be more efficient and productive?

If you’re bored, miserable, or working on things that simply don’t matter to you, it may be time to start job hunting. Make sure you follow your company’s rules about leaving the job the right way. This will help you to make a good impression at your next interview.

Work at Home Opportunities for Geeks

If you love technology then you might have a long standing dream of working with gadgets or online. However, could you be tempted to give up the security of a steady job in order to chance on doing this? The good news is that you can find a number of jobs online that match your skills and interests if you do some research.

What type of work at home opportunities for geeks would you be most interested in?

Tech Writer

One of the great things about writing news and reviews about new technology is that you get paid for carrying out your hobby. If you are interested in the new iPhone then why not write an article reviewing it? Equally, if you want to find out about the latest apps and gadgets then you can become an expert just by doing your job. You could do this in a number of ways, from hosting your own blog to working as a freelance writer. There are millions of people all over the world interested in finding  out about technology so you could provide a great service for them and earn money at the same time.

Graphic Designer

This is the type of job that it is ideally suited to working at home. If you have good design skills then using them in front of your home PC could open up a whole new way of living for you. Would you like some ice in that cool drink while you lounge in the garden with your laptop, sir? You might get a full time job in this field or perhaps you would be happy working as a freelancer and picking up jobs here and there. This is the sort of job where you can earn a decent salary and get good job satisfaction as well. If you long to get some extra creativity into your working day then this is a fine way to do so. 

IT Support

With so many IT problems being simple to solve over the phone it is no wonder that a lot of companies now outsource their IT support work to off-site workers. This type of job can be very interesting for someone with a keen interest in technology. If you are looking to change your way of living and working then it is the sort of role that could be right for you. It can be relatively undemanding for someone who understands technology well but can also be good fun too.    

Mobile App Developer

It appears that just about every business in the world now wants to get its own mobile apps, and someone has to develop them, right? This type of work can be hugely satisfying, as you jump from one project onto something completely different. The future of mobile app development looks extremely bright and this is a great time to get in on the act and start working from home on them. You might need to learn some new skills first of all but if you have a decent knowledge of programming then you have a head start.

This is a guest post for Socialwatch.co a newly launched social media agency who specialise in the buy twitter followers uk and buy Instagram followers uk market.

Tips To Keep Your Employees Safe

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Making sure you have a safe workplace makes business sense. Not only do you have a legal – and moral – obligation to look after your employees, you also owe it to your bottom line to make sure that compensation and sick leave aren’t being paid out for situations that could have been prevented.

Preventable workplace injuries are something that law firms like Turner Freeman see all too often. Below are five ways that you can make sure your people stay safe and healthy at work.

1. Encourage a Safety First Culture

How much of a focus do you place on workplace health and safety? Make sure it’s not just something that you ‘tick off’ to meet your legal obligations. You should have robust policies and procedures that mandate safe work practices and be using opportunities like staff newsletters and meetings to facilitate training and discussion around being safe at work.

2. The Right Tools for the Right Job

Giving your team access to the most appropriate tools and resources to perform their tasks is crucial. Some of the most preventable workplace accidents, injuries and incidents stem from people doing things like climbing on furniture to reach something high rather than a step ladder, attempting to cut or modify something with the improper tool – things that would have been much less likely to happen had the right resources been available.

3. Keep Things Tidy

If people need to navigate – or relocate – obstacles in order to complete their regular job function, accidents are more likely to occur. Not only is it a very inefficient way to work, but the chances of trips, falls or lifting injuries are increased. They may be distracted due to a deadline or frustration at things not being tidy, and make careless or reckless mistakes like ‘just climbing over’ the obstacle in an attempt to save time. Taking the time to organise work and storage areas reduces this risk greatly.

4. Reduce Workplace Stress

Don’t underestimate the significant impact that stress can have on your employees. Conflict with colleagues or management, long hours, unrealistic expectations and heavy workloads can all take their toll on your team’s state of mind. Not only are you at risk of having them need to take significant time off, but they may also be more likely to make dangerous mistakes.

5. Encourage Breaks

Ensure that your workplace culture is one where rest is as valued as work – employees are entitled to lunch and rest breaks, days off and periods of leave. Refreshed employees are productive and focussed employees. No matter how busy it is, ensure your team are getting regular opportunities to rest and recharge.
Workplace health and safety is everyone’s responsibility and the penalties for non-compliance can be high. The fines and compensation claims are hefty, but so is the emotional toll of knowing that someone was put in danger just trying to do their job.

Do you feel your workplace is doing enough to provide a safe work environment?

Today's Successful Business Must Be Remarkable

Business trends for 2013 show that businesses would begin to strive to be “remarkable.” Because the economy has evened out quality and pricing in products, the basis for the prediction was that consumers are looking for the extras that companies provide. According to experts, consumers look for companies with which they can identify. These are businesses that arouse interest, spur comment and get talked about in a positive way. They are, in short, remarkable.

How do you create a remarkable business today? To answer that question, you should think about the remarkable people you know. What makes them memorable? Passion is probably high on the list of characteristics you note. Others are creativity, originality and the willingness to go the extra mile. Those are all characteristics of remarkable businesses, too.

Branding is important. Remarkable businesses brand themselves not only in their product line but in their community involvement and outlook. Some remarkable businesses focus on being “green” companies. Others partner with health organizations or food banks to impact the communities where they are located. The services a company offers or the price that it charges may be standard. What “brands” the company is the personality of its leadership (think of the used car dealership advertisements with the salespeople in ball hats or Stetsons) and its image in the community.

People talk about businesses that go out of their way to help them find the product or service they need, even if it is only provided by a competitor. Consider the case of the insurance company that lists its premiums along with the costs of other companies, so consumers can see when they aren’t the cheapest.

Remarkable companies build an image and a corporate conscience and don’t deviate from it. They don’t settle for second best, and they keep positive outlooks. They build relationships with communities and consumers that keep them competitive. Most companies cannot match international corporations in production volume or in capital. They can, however, beat the “big boys” locally by leaning on those relationships.

Remarkable companies keep their strategies simple. They know what they are good at, and they concentrate on those areas. Remarkable businesses have a personality and a voice that comes through in their blogs and websites. It also is evident in the “handshakes” of their employees.

That last trait of remarkable businesses is important. Remarkable companies choose remarkable employees. Glen Gonzalez has been exceptional from the beginning of his career. His experience, though varied, bears the hallmarks of being remarkable. He has shown a willingness to go “the extra mile,” and has branded himself in both his cities of residence as someone with community ties who cares about things like preservation of art and culture.

The 2012 prediction that successful businesses would have to be remarkable businesses is not dated. It is on track in its assessment that products and services are becoming standardized and what sets successful companies apart is being “remarkable.” That means choosing people to operate the business who understand conscience and commitment: remarkable people build remarkable businesses.

Training and Development's Role in Your Personal Life

Learning is a continuous process. Our parents, elders and educators have constantly drilled us on that aspect - to keep learning. Learning comes in many forms. You can learn thru schooling, by researching, by coaching and being a mentee, by reading, hearing and observation, by traveling and by attending workshops and trainings geared for development.

Many may think that training and development is merely for those in the workforce, academe, students and the military. It is actually for everyone who aims to develop their professional and/or personal life.

The role of training and development can be classified into 2 aspects:

1. Professional

Professional training and development entail teachings about how one can incorporate the soft skills (eg., leadership, diplomacy, communication, problem solving and decision making skills, emotional quotient in the workplace) and other skills set learned in the workplace.  Professional training and development works for both the employees and employer as they all benefit from what result of the training and development. This is crucial for both as what skills and theories learned by the staff will be transferred and applied to the day-to-day functions required in the workplace.

2. Personal

Even if you have taken a training for professional purposes, most of these trainings and workshops are actually applicable to your personal life. For example, I have gone through series of trainings from our company's leadership programme for a year. I know what I have learned is mainly beneficial to being applied in my work area but the plus factor is that, I have tapped my inner leadership abilities and honed my soft skills like communicating with influence, applying the theories I have learned in problem solving and decision making even in personal matters.  I have also been able to practice the art of diplomacy by being more patient and understanding when to shift my role from being a "child" to a "nurturing parent" to an "adult" thru all the things I have learned in all the training and development workshops I have attended in the past.

So, the role of training and development in both our professional and personal life cannot be denied. In fact, it is really a boon to nominate ourselves to these kinds of trainings so we can evaluate ourselves more and see where we can enhance further. And you will see how doing this can be both beneficial to your career and personal life.

Self Improvement Through Training Opportunities

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I always believe that we have to take advantage of every opportunity that comes our way because opportunity knocks only once and I don't want to miss that.

I apply that same principle in my approach to learning and development. It is something I value because I can enhance myself both personally and professionally. I know how important it is to keep learning and improving and attending trainings and seminars are just ways to do that.

My 2014 is lined up with more trainings to enhance soft skills. That is my priority this year. What are these soft skills that I aim to improve?

• Communicating skills - being able to express myself effectively and diplomatically

• Listening skills - being able to listen intensively, understand what is told and be able to show empathy

• Enhance Positive Outlook - be more optimistic in every challenging situations and issues that may come my way

• Master the art of Time Management - be able to handle my tasks and prioritize what needs to be done

• Handling Stress -  to be able to channel negative energies brought by external and internal stress into a positive energy through methods of meditation, prayers, engagement in sports and healthy lifestyle

• Ability to take in feedback and criticism constructively - be able to accept other people's feedback and criticism with an open mind and to take them as stepping stones for my own development

5 New Careers You Should Consider

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It’s easy to be discouraged by unemployment statistics but the reality is there has never been a better time to change careers. There are some very strong growth industries that could offer you a chance at a brand new career path. With a little lateral thinking and some training you could set yourself on a pathway to a prosperous and fulfilling future.

Where to Start

Don’t be overwhelmed. It’s not that difficult to change career paths. Spend sometime researching the industries that are seeing strong employment growth; think about what you are good at and passionate about; and then decide what could be a good fit for you.

Next, sign up for some training and get the qualifications you need. Training options are relatively inexpensive and incredibly flexible. Learning is generally self-paced and is usually offered externally. Check out HBA Learning Centres Australia for an example of how today’s training is designed to fit your schedule and your needs. As Nike says, “Just do it”.

Step Up into Management

Perhaps you don’t need to change the sector you work in as much as you need totake up a step up into management. Your years of experience can be put to gooduse and earn you an excellent income. Many highly experienced people just needsome training in management to equip them to take a step up into a more fulfilling role. Being experienced in an area doesn’t necessarily make you a good manager, there are strategies and skills you need to learn to help you excel in a management role. Management training is definitely worth considering.;

Child Services

A major growth industry is in the arena of childcare. Working parents are on the increase and quality childcare is top of mind for most of them. If you have a passion for children, this is definitely a career choice you should consider. Options include being a childcare worker or being engaged in the planning, implementation and management of early childhood services.

Safety is Huge

Workplace Health and Safety is a massive growth area, particularly within the mining industry. If you would like to coordinate and maintain the workplace health and safety program of an orrganisation, then this could be the career for you. Training will help you to develop the knowledge base and skills to work within a wide variety of contexts.

Become a Trainer

Many people who have significant life and work experience make excellent trainers. Adult education is another growth area and work in this field is both interesting and rewarding. Gain qualifications in training and assessment services and you can put your skills, experience and knowledge base to work for you. This is an excellent career choice for anyone who has a desire to pass on their knowledge to help equip others.

Auditing

Another excellent way to utilise your experience is to gain qualifications in auditing. This will allow you to apply your knowledge to help others plan and evaluate their work practices. Training will give the managerial competencies required to tackle this career.

4 Personality Types You May Want To Avoid In the Office

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Everyone likes to think that they are easy to get along with. However, if you’ve ever spent time working in a busy office, which I’m guessing most of you have, you’d know that this isn’t always the case. Every work environment possesses a myriad of personalities each different to the next. If, by chance you are reading this at work (on the sly I hope) take a look around the office at your co-workers. Can you categorise any of them into one of these personality types?

The Chatty Kathy

This co-worker super fun and bubbly – a real gem to be around. They always ask you questions about your life and seems genuinely interested in you. That is until a few weeks later and all those intimate details of what you got up to on the weekend have spread like wildfire around the office. Eeekk. There can only be one culprit – the chatty Kathy, otherwise known as office gossip. These people thrive in drama, and are prone to spreading lies or half-truths behind the backs of others. No information is safe and while you may be tempted to return the favour – watch out – they know how to play the game and have the ability to twist your words in ways you could have never imagined, causing co-workers to pick sides. Once management gets wind of your rift, there will be undeniable consequences mostly for you.

The Put Down Patrol

The put-down patrol is among the same species as the gossip, the only difference is, these people have no qualms about making digs to your face, and in a group situation. It might be an attack on your intelligence, your looks, how you handled a client or whether you suck up to the boss. If you call them up on it, their go-to response is just relax man, can’t you take a joke! Seriously, did we just teleport back to high school? Their comments can range from aggressive and intimidating to passive and underhanded.

The Delegator

You’re not really sure what this person’s job actually entails, mostly because they don’t seem to be doing any work at all. Your daily interactions involve them throwing a pile of folders on your desk and demanding a report via the Axcelerate CRM system by COB. All the while, they spend the day gasbagging with ol’ chatty Kathy near the water cooler. What makes the situation even worse, is that your boss is clearly wearing rose coloured glasses and believes that this guy has impeccable management skills. They will most likely be the next to be promoted.

The Ball Breaker

This person will stop at nothing to become the top dog, no matter how many people they squish along the way – probably including their own Mother. You’ll likely realise quite quickly that they are not team players and have the mentality of, it’s my way or the highway. They hate being knocked off their pedestal or being shown up by anyone else (intentional or not) and will likely make your job very difficult if you wrong them. They are often very charming due to their extroverted nature, but they are also low on the empathy charts and very high on the emotional stability one. Approach these people softly and be wary of their mind games.

What’s your work personality? Let us know in the comments below.

Take Action with Your Education and an Executive MBA Degree

Many people choose to continue their education after high school. They are all trying to learn skills that will help them find a real-life career. Potential employers are more likely to hire those that have completed some form of higher education. However, graduating with a bachelor’s degree does not guarantee someone a career. They most likely need more experience on their résumé. Unfortunately, real-world experience is tough to come by. This is why many successful students choose the path of the master’s degree. Earning a master’s involves more time and hard work. However, most master’s degrees will involve working closely with experts of their chosen field. Earning an accolade like a Denver executive MBA degree can launch your career successfully.

Invest Your Energy and Reap the Rewards

Choosing your path towards a career can be difficult. You will have all sorts of conflicting voices. Your family members may attempt to sway you one direction or another. Friends can do the same thing if you let them. Even if your friends and family are completely supportive, you may still be contending with conflicting voices in your own head. Choosing a pathway towards a career can be stressful and difficult. However, completely investing your energy into your education has its rewards. Choosing to devote your efforts to education is a sign of maturity. You are becoming an adult and taking responsibility for yourself.

Think Carefully about Your Career Path

With a good degree from a well-recognized school, you earn more than just another thing for your résumé. You earn the skills and experience that come along with completing the program. A bachelor’s degree can help get your career started successfully. If you want to be a leader and have the possibility to earn even more money, you may want to look into a master’s level of education. Someone with a Denver executive MBA degree is much more likely to earn a leadership role. The experience earned from a master’s program can open up even more opportunities. Ask yourself what you want to do with your career. Your thoughts will lead you to the actions necessary to reach your destination.

Training For Me

I am amazed by the pace I am going with regards to my professional development. It was just last year and few months when I was struggling so hard to be heard in my previous department. It was difficult to move forward but now, it is completely the opposite.

In a span of 1 year and 5 months, I have been in 2 major leadership trainings and 10 other seminars and trainings for other fields that would benefit me personally and professionally.

I have been blessed with supportive bosses who know the importance of undergoing trainings, workshops and seminars. They know the value of these developmental schemes to enhance ourselves, prepare us to be good leaders and better persons.

This is by far, the most active period of my career life in terms of benefiting well through trainings and development. I don't see myself stopping anytime soon. As a matter of fact, I have another leadership training this September.  What more can I ask for?

How to Thwart a Raging Bull

-- This is a repost. I have written this many moons ago when I was still in a different department. Things have changed recently. And as I recall how much I have been motivating and reminding myself how wonderful life is - I stumble upon this post I have written with humor. For those who can relate, I hope the tips below can help you recover or at least deal with the situation and the perpetrator. For those who are blessed to enjoy the peace and quiet of being at home full time, share this to those you know who can apply it in their corporate lives. Enjoy the read!  --


Best answer to this is to run! Run for your life! Kidding aside, there's nothing more enraging than someone crushing your spirit especially if you've gotten up on the right side of the bed.

I woke up with a bright outlook in life one fine morning, smiling my blues away, looking forward to another day and screeeeeeeecccchhhhhhh..... wait a sec! What just happened? It's like a dream sequel and suddenly you woke up like someone threw cold water on your face. Yes, that happened to me at work. Again, no details will be spared but the crux of the matter is, some people just ruined my day in a fraction of a second! Wow, that's Guinness Book of World Records there for you!

I was upset the whole day because:

1. I felt hurt.
2. I was treated with disrespect.
3. They ruined my sunny-side up spirit.

One thing that really pulls my nerve is when someone is sarcastic when spoken to. My point is, I speak to you kindly, then answer back with the same respect given to you. Isn't that the right thing to do to people? Was that so hard to do? I mean, to be kind? Golden Rule. Golden Rule. Golden Rule. I can't stress that enough.

After that event one fine morning, I thought of presenting this tips on how to avoid raging bulls in the office:

Here's one:
Look the other way. Try to avoid eye contact. You'll never know when he or she will pop your eyes out. ;)

Here's another:
Try to become invisible for a day or at least until the rage wears down. If you need to relay a message or have important matters to discuss with the raging bull then go through the assistant, if he or she has one. I just did that. If I could fold myself into several folds, I would have done that so I could put myself in my own pocket!

And another:
Play some funky tunes to cast the blues away. Music is like a therapy to calm my nerves. Just don't play heavy metal, head banging, ear drums crashing music or it will make you more upset. Tone down with a good "zen" like music or easy listening stuff. I played "Amazing Grace" in my head over and over until I cooled down. Another music which calms my nerves is blues/jazzy tune. Never disappoints me at all.

Last trick I tried:
I offered a prayer. I was scared of losing it too because I just gave them a reason to ruin my composure. Well, they actually did but to give in to such negative feeling is something I will not subject myself to. I owe it to myself to be happy and happy I will be. Bulls or none...

So, there will be another day again and this will be my prayer:

"As I enter the work area Lord, please give me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference...and while I am at it Lord, please don't make me too strong because I might just throw them all away." hehehehe Just kidding Lord. =)

(photo courtesy of: www.yesnet.yk.ca)