The Lost Era of Steam Travel

The Lost Era of Steam Travel The Lost Era of Steam Travel They were called iron horses, a moniker suggesting indestructability, but these 400-ton machines were very prone to wear and tear. In fact, the behemoths required plenty of tender loving care.And so for more than 50 years the great steam locomotives came, chugging in to a Southern Railway repair yard sprawled over 141 acres in Spencer, North Carolina, about 30 miles southwest of Winston-Salem.The facility at Spencer, constructed in 1896 and featuring a massive roundhouse, welches one of hundreds of railroad back shops that dotted the American landscape during the heyday of steam travel in the mid-nineteenth century and into the turn of the twentieth century. While not uncommon in its time, the Spencer shops stand out today as one of the largest remaining original examples of the final era of roundhouse construction, according to ASME, which recently named the facility a Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark.Samuel Spencer s aw the need for a large maintenance shop situated somewhere between the companys existing repair shops in Atlanta and Washington, D.C. Such a facility, Spencer reasoned, would enable the company to service and swap out its locomotives at short intervals along the busy eastern line, dividing the Washington to Atlanta run into four segments of about 160 miles each.ConstructionConstruction of the Spencer shops began in March 1896 and the facility was operational six months later. Spencer was a huge complex of shops, administrative buildings, lots, storage areas, and railroad spurs and sidings, reflecting the requirements of the growing company.The original facility included a semicircular roundhouse with 15 bays. It was here that Southerns steam-driven locomotives received routine light maintenance. Crews in the roundhouse performed brake work, gear adjustments, boiler washouts, grease jobs, inspections, and other tasks necessary to keep the companys rolling stock in continuous operati on. In 1924, the roundhouse at Spencer was expanded to 37 stalls, each one 106 feet deep.Since steam locomotives were unable to back out of these stalls, engineers designed and built a rotating turntable that enabled the engines to face in the direction they would exit the roundhouse. The turntable, which rotated 360 degrees about a centerspindle, was supported at each end by wheels rolling on a circular rail set in a concrete pit. A pair of electric motors set the turntable in motion.The facility also included shops for major repair work. Some of these shops were able to accommodate the complete disassembly of a locomotive. Need a part? No problem. Spencer included a machine shop where any part could be cast, forged, and milled on spec. There was no outsourcing of work at Spencer.In peak periods, Southern operated three shifts at 24 hours around the clock at Spencer, retaining a workforce of 3000 repairmen and other employees.One of them was Clifford E. Spears, who worked as a boil ermaker at Spencer from 1942 to 1960. Spears, now 87 years old and still living in Spencer, recalls the bustle of the rail yard, with trains continuously entering and leaving the shops.All the stalls in the roundhouse would be occupied, said Spears, whose job was to weld joints and seams and perform other tasks to make the boilers on the locomotives steam-tight. After the repair work was carried out, inspections were done. Engines that passed inspection were rolled out and placed back into service. Engines requiring major repairs were taken to the other shops, where workers removed the running gears and cranes set the locomotives on wooden blocks. The equipment remained in certain shops depending on the extent of the repair work.Here Come the DieselsDiesel locomotives began arriving at Spencer in 1941, prompting officials at Southern Railway to retrofit the roundhouse to meet the requirements of the new engines. Nine stalls were extended to accommodate the longer, multi-unit diesels , and new sections were added to service batteries, fuel injectors, and other components of the new locomotives.By 1953, the company had taken all its steam locomotives off the rails, marking the end of an era at the Spencer shops. Clifford Spears recalls that the job skills of the boilermakers and pipefitters became obsolete, while the mechanics with knowledge of electrical components became valued assets.While Southern continued to service part of its fleet of diesel locomotives at Spencer into the 1960s, much of the heavy repair work had ceased years earlier and by the latter 1970s, the great train yard had reached the end days. The facility was abandoned in 1977, its roundhouse and shops mothballed.RestorationSouthern Railways Spencer shops could have become part of Americas Rust Belt, a relic, a symbol of a forgotten period in the nations gritty industrial past. The government of North Carolina, however, saw the facility as much more, as a link to the states history and heritag e. In 1979, the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources in collaboration with the North Carolina Transportation History Corporation launched a campaign to restore the facility. Funds were raised to refurbish the roundhouse and turntable, which opened to the public in 1996.Today, the North Carolina Transportation Museum occupies part of the old Spencer shops and uses the roundhouse to display its collection of rolling stock.All the stalls in the roundhouse would be occupied. After the repair work was carried out, inspections were done. Engines that passed inspection were rolled out and placed back into service.Clifford E. Spears, Boilermaker, Southern Railways Spencer Shops

5 things you should never say to a friend who hates their job

5 things you should never say to a friend who hates their job5 things you should never say to a friend who hates their jobIn a perfect world, we would obviously all love our jobs. We would jump out of bed every morning - nosnooze buttonnecessary - ready to put on our bestbusiness casualand be the first one to hit the office. We would gel easily with ourcolleaguesand supervisors and never get into an awkward spat with other people on our teams. We would rise seamlessly through the ranks at our current organization, too pleased with the companys mission and too fulfilled by our work to ever consider circling back to our resumes and applying to other jobs.Sadly, this isnt always the situation. Unless youre the rare lucky case, youve had imperfect moments on the job - and your friends have too. As a result, you may be the one your BFF comes to after an especially tough workday. Its not always easy to know what to say when someone is struggling, especially when it comes to something as vital as their source of support.We checked in with experts for advice on whatnotto say to a pal whos habitually unhappy in their work. Keep scrolling for their anti-recommendations.1. It will probably blow over.If your friend is miserable at the office, dont minimize their feelings or brush off their concerns as temporary. Instead, counselor, coach, and healerAnahid Lisa Derbabianencourages you to take the time to listen and to understand what theyre going through. When you tell someone that their worries are bound to pass, what they might hear is that you dont think that what theyre dealing with is substantial enough to merit a thoughtful conversation in the here and now. And we know thats not how you actually feel2. Ive been there Heres what happened to me Your first instinct might be to try to draw from your own experiences with a less-than-ideal job or to share an anecdote with your friend that will remind them that theres a light at the end of the tunnel, but coach and consu ltantJane Scudderadvises against it. Youre probably doing this in an effort to normalize the situation or empathize with your friend, but what it can actually do is make this about you, when it needs to be about them. There may come a time when your friend asks you to share your personal journey out of a crummy gig - but in the meantime keep it to yourself.3. If I were you, I would stay for the benefits.Naturally, a reliable health insurance plan or 401(k) is nothing to take lightly, but suggesting your unhappy pal stick around in apotentially unhealthy workplacesimply becauseyoufind the benefits attractive may come off as judgmental. Its up to them to decide whether the pros outweigh the cons in their current job. Plus, as author and coachBernard Charlespoints out, benefits can change with political or other shifts. Comments like these keep your friends and loved ones playing small, Charles reminds us. Any job that exhausts you, sucks the life out of you, or expects you to hand ov er your proverbial kidney isnt worth it.4. How is thejob searchgoing?Assuming your friend has been unhappy with their current employment situation for a while, you might find yourself tempted to regularly touch base about their prospects. While that could be read as genuine concern, it could also strike a nerve in your likely stressed loved one. If they had a new job, they would have told you, saysMaple HolisticsHR manager Nate Masterson. They dont need a reminder that theyre still unemployed or searching for alternatives. This conversation is at the bottom of their chat-with-my-friend list.5. You should just be grateful for the job you have.Gratitude is important, but it doesnt have to come at the expense of your daily happiness. Being grateful doesnt mean ignoring pain and unhappiness, adviserCandice Thomasnotes. It doesnt matter if your friends job seems like the greatest job on Earth. Thats your perspective, not theirs. If they are unhappy, theres a reason for it. Your role shou ld be to listen openly to their frustrations and to encourage them in whatever steps they want to take next.This article first appeared on Brit + Co.

MBDAs new administrator has tough road ahead

MBDAs new administrator has tough road aheadMBDAs new administrator has tough road aheadThe Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) named a new administrator today appointed by US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke. David Hinson is the president and CEO of Wealth Management Network Inc., a multimillion dollar financial advisory firm.The MBDA is the only federal agency set up to specifically encourage the establishment and growth of minority-owned businesses nationwide. Last year, the agency negotiated $2 tausend milliarden in capital and contracts for minority-owned businesses. Hinsons primary responsibility will be to continue to promote entrepreneurship opportunities forminoritiesand foster growth of existing minority-owned small businesses. According to the MBDA website, minority businesses generate more than $661 billion in annual revenue and employ nearly five million workers. With Hinsons experience in the financial industry, havingformerly worked at both Bank of America and Mor gan Stanley, his appointment is promising for the agency as he carries cachet and respect among his peers. At a time when the economy is proving even more exacting for minorities, with many having stalled on their business plans in the absence of credit, Hinsons plan of action will be essential in generating employment, entrepreneurship and getting lines of credit running again.

5 habits of highly likable people

5 habits of highly likable people5 habits of highly likable peopleIt is the fear of most people at work When you wiggle yur way into a group at your office happy hour, the conversation immediately screeches to a halt. When you speak up in team meetings, your colleagues roll their eyes. You feel like you hear whispers every time you walk down the hallway.For whatever reason, youre hated at work. And, even further, youre convinced that its your no-good, backstabbing co-workers that are the problem. Why on earth wouldnt they like you? You think youre pretty great. How catty and childish (ahem, not to mention blind) are they?Brace yourself for a rude awakening The issue here could very well be you.When youre not well-liked in the office, its easy to point the finger at your co-workers. But, heres the brutal reality You play a large role in how youre perceived in the office- meaning its not all the fault of your seemingly nasty and judgmental colleagues.We all have blind spots about ourse lves, explains Kathi Elster, President of K Squared Enterprises, co-author of Mean Girls at Work, and co-host of My Crazy Office Podcast.When the behaviors are built in, its easy for us to see them as right. Habits slowly build from this repeated behavior, adds Jeanne Patti, acareer coach.If we ourselves dont see the habits forming or those around us dont call us out on them, these behaviors can become chronic and can negatively affect our character and how others view us.What does all of this mean for you? Well, the way that youre behaving in the office could be majorly turning your colleagues off- without you even realizing it. Heres how to turn it around and become more likable - not with tricks, but with honest self-assessment.How to examine your own behavior for flawsSo, what sorts of behaviors could you be exhibiting that are making your teammates cringe? Well, from constantly complaining to interrupting, your obnoxious actions could run the gamut. The most toxic behaviors I see in the workplace involve individuals who think that the only way for them to get a win is for other people to lose, explains Karlyn Borysenko, a principal ofZen Workplace, about something she sees crop up frequently. If they arent pushing other people down, they dont think they can get ahead.Office gossip is another terrible trap thats easy to fall into. As human beings, we like to understand why things are the way they are, and if we dont have a clear explanation for it, well come up with stories to explain it, adds Borysenko. Here are some other things you could be doing that are contributing to your least liked status in the office.Maintaining control at all costs Being the quintessential control freak might seem like a great way to take initiative and bring some much-needed organization to your team, but its aya to grate on your colleagues.These people want to make all the decisions, double-check everything, and nitpick all the small details, says Borysenko. Exhibiting this behavior might mean that youll even go so far as to provide direction to your peers- you act like the boss, even though youre not. Taking credit for others work This ones a no-brainer, right? But, youd be surprised by how easy it is to fall into this same trap yourself. Whether you provide a not-so-subtle reminder that the project was a team effort when your colleague is praised by your boss or you pass off an idea that your team member mentioned to you as your own, it can be tempting to ride on coattails or create your own spinoffs in reservierung to shift the spotlight to yourself. Breeding negativity When your team member wants to change the way you do a certain report, you complain. When the office manager switches out the brand of coffee in the breakroom, you complain.The pessimist can build a pretty strong case why the change can hurt the status quo, says Patti. When projects dont meet their goals, these guardians prove themselves right, and the pessimistic behavior will build upon itself.Having all the answers Nobody likes a know-it-all. Not only is this behavior just plain obnoxious, but it can also lead to some pretty condescending treatment of your colleagues. When this person becomes stressed or unable to contribute in a way they see as valuable to help fix the problem, they can quickly judge others and see them as incompetent, Patti explains. Avoiding conflict Are you somebody who prefers to duck and cover as soon as conflicts arise or conversations get a little more heated? You might think that playing Switzerland is a surefire way to stay out of the mess altogether. But, avoiding unpleasantness at all costs- and leaving your co-workers to duke it out, even when you have a dog in the fight yourself- is actually equally as frustrating. How to build self awarenessHeres the problem we all run into Recognizing these behaviors in ourselves can be tough. After all, if you knew that something you were doing was royally pissing your co-workers off, you pr obably wouldve stopped doing that thing long ago, right?Needless to say, the first step to changing any behavior or habit is being able to identify it. So, in order to gain some more favor in the office (and stop those eye rolls that youve grown to dread), youre going to need to become a little more self-aware. Heres how.1. Take ownershipFirst up? Accepting the fact that you do indeed play a large role in the way that youre perceived in the office. Sorry, its not all the fault of your seemingly judgmental colleagues.If we acknowledge how our behaviors are being perceived by our co-workers, that means we need to place blame on ourselves, and most people simply dont want to do that, shares Borysenko. Its far easier to put ourselves in the role of a victim so that we dont have to accept that we probably could have approached things differently.2. Ask for feedbackRemember those blind spots you have about your own behavior? You might need to pull in some outside reinforcements to help yo u realize when youre acting like, well, a jerk. We all need to get direct feedback on what we are doing wrong, explains Elster. Whether you want to have an honest (and likely to be brutally frank) conversation with a co-worker that you trust or plan to bring up the way that youre perceived in the office during a one-on-one with your supervisor, getting the insights- and help- of other people on your team can help to open your eyes to the way youre acting.3. Pay attention to your stress reactionsOn a good day, we can play nice with anyone, shares Patti, Yet, when were frustrated and under stress, our core traits come flying out.Most of us act out when we are stressed, which will contribute to bringing out our worst behaviors, adds Elster. We need to know what our stress reactions might be.Pay close attention to how your attitude and behavior change when youre placed in a high pressure situation. For example, do you become extra pushy and controlling when youre working with a tight de adline?Anticipating that reaction will help you to more proactively manage it.4. Stop judgingWhen you realize that youve been acting like a straight-up jerk in the office, its human nature to start beating yourself up. But, resist the temptation to drag yourself over the coals.Stop judging things as good or bad- your behaviors or other peoples, warns Borysenko. The minute we see something as bad we try to fight against it, but thats usually just not productive. Anytime you find yourself judging, take a step back, breathe, consider your goals, and look for the best way to bring others along to achieve them.5. Frequently step back and examine your own roleNo one sets out to behave in bad ways we all try to work in ways that are comfortable for us. So, unless youre a gefhrlicher irrer (they do well at work) theres a good chance that the behaviors that you assume to be harmless could be the very things that are pushing your co-workers away.Be aware of these common toxic behaviors and im plement these tips to become more aware of your own actions, and youre much more likely to tackle the important task of turning your reputation around.Remember that you often get back the reactions you put out there if youre doing a lot of eye-rolling yourself, youre more likely to get eye-rolls from others in return. If youre complaining a lot, people are complaining about you.Above all be authentic. Putting on an act to seem like a different person takes a lot of energy, wont make you feel better and most of your colleagues are likely to see right through it anyway. Most of the time, unless were Oscar-nominated actors, were not fooling anyone by pretending. Be sincere in your words and actions, and treat people with the respect they deserve.You can be the smartest person in the room, but if no one likes you or no one wants to work with you, your reputation is going to be hurt, concludes Elster. Behavior matters.

Hiring the Best People with a Values-Based Interview Strategy

Hiring the Best People with a Values-Based Interview StrategyHiring the Best People with a Values-Based Interview StrategyHiring the Best People with a Values-Based Interview Strategy Rhoades, author of Built on Values Creating an Enviable Culture that Outperforms the Competition (Jossey-Bass, 2011.)In yur quest to attract top talent,are you hiring too many people who are just average? Why not let your best people help you select candidates who are a better fit for your corporateculture?Getting your best people your A Players involved in the hiring process is a technique I call values interviewing, as part of a values-based hiring strategy.Ive seen this approach work at companies like JetBlue, where I was a founding executive, and at many other clients of my company, People Ink. At Loma Linda University Medical Center, for example, after values-based hiring was put in place, turnover fell precipitously from 18 percent per year to 1 percent in the ICU the hospitals patient engageme nt score (a measure of customer satisfaction) rose to 99 percent.One of our clients reported an Aha moment when interviewing a person with twenty years experience and a sterling resume. He said that previously he would have hired her on sight. But when he asked her to tell him about the specific steps she took to increase revenue by 38 percent, as her resume stated, she simply couldnt do it.Being able to articulate the behaviors associated with achievements is a key component of values hiring and one that a traditional interview strategy usually misses.At Southwest, when I was Chief People Officer, we did a regression analysis of the behavior of our employees over a two-year period that proved that the most successful employees were the ones who could articulate past behaviors that matched with our values.Even your job postings on Monster.com will attract a better class of job applicant if your values and the desired behaviors associated with them are an explicit part of your recrui ting message. Simply put, youll attract more people like you.Improve your Interview OutcomesA typical interview, writes Stephanie Clifford of Inc., unstructured, rambling, unfocused tells the interviewer almost nothing about candidates, other than how they seem during a couple of meetings in a conference room.Once a values-hiring process is implemented, interviewers will all ask the same open-ended behavior- or values-based questions of every applicant and can objectively compare their answers. If done correctly, values hiring takes much of the guesswork out of interviewing, allowing the interviewer to make educated decisions based on a persons past behavior, rather than emotional or gut responses.Yes, I am recommending that you change the way you hire people throughout your company. I guarantee that if you stick with this new hiring method for six months, you will wonder why you ever did it any other way.A Better Hiring Process Start with One Key Position The first step in values- based hiring is to apply it to a position that is vital to the customers perceptions of your company (in order words, it represents high value to your company) and is a position thats difficult to keep filled.Some examples An airline might departure with pilots. Some companies might start with the customer service agent position. At Loma Linda, they started with the environmental care specialist, known elsewhere as the custodial staff.After all, these people are seen by everyone and trusted to create a neat, sterile environment they interact with patients, come into contact with the public in the lobbies and halls and must have high standards of cleanliness.Yet the turnover in this position was more than a third annually, making it a great place to start.Step 2 Uncover the Jobs Key AttributesOnce youve chosen the position, the next step is to identify its key attributes. The values-hiring innovation start by interviewing the best people who already hold this job in your company. Ask these employees questions such asIf you were looking to recruit a great person for your own position, what would you be looking for?What skills help you do your job well?Then, add relevant behavior-based questions like this oneTell me about a difficult situation that you handled successfully.A list of ten to fifteen success characteristics will emerge fairly clearly relevant supervisors or managers should be asked to rank them in order of importance and narrow the list to the most important five or six.Although this validation can be time-consuming, the involvement of employees who actually do the job adds credibility to the process and cultivates a sense of ownership among the workforce.At Loma Linda, for example, key employees agreed that the key attributes of an environmental care specialist were customer focus, accuracy and attention to detail, and adaptability.These traits can help your team formulate meaningful interview questions that become part of your companys interview g uide. A values-based approach to hiring will also help you create a more structured and fair process for hiring great people.Author BioAnn Rhoades is president of People Ink, a culture-change consulting firm, and the author Built on Values Creating an Enviable Culture that Outperforms the Competition.She is also a member of the board of JetBlue and P.F. Changs.She was one of the five founding executives of JetBlue Airways, Chief People Officer for Southwest Airlines and Executive Vice President of Team Services at Doubletree and Promus Hotel Corporations.

The True Meaning of Is My Perfect Resume Free

The True Meaning of Is My Perfect Resume Free Writing a strong application is a difficult procedure and we would like to make it simpler. Apart from consulting My Perfect Resume reviews, everyone can visit the website and find three primary steps for using the service. The way the Service Works My Perfect Resume is completely self-directed, so the quantity of time that it requires to experience the whole process will change from person to person. To begin, you have the choice to import your Word or LinkedIn resume. What Is My Perfect Resume Free Is - and What it Is Not The incorrect hire can send things spinning, while the fruchtwein suitable one can totally transform their business enterprise. The very last thing you would like is for your resume to let you down when youre actually the most suitable pick for the job. With this much riding on your resume, it is logical to seek out professional assistance. Do elend offer these people money. Heres why youre able to count on our resume builder that will help you. Including a tiny job description under every one of your work designation is likely to make your resume even better. Also show youre a well-rounded worker. In addition, like most other resume builders, My Perfect Resume makes it simple for the work hunter to cover all their bases without forgetting a significant part of the resume. Job seekers deserve to locate decent content quickly. Since I was at my final job 5 decades, I know my resume was probably the issue, as so much has changed in the past few decades. Transportation jobs involve a great deal of responsibility and your resume will want to reflect you can deal with that. Make certain you highlight technical wisdom and certifications. Instead, concentrate on the fundamentals. Ruthless Is My Perfect Resume Free Strategies Exploited A career goal should be prepared in a convincing method. 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When It Comes to Business, Mind Your Manners

When It Comes to Business, Mind Yur Manners Believe it or not, minding your manners really does make a difference in business these days. In fact, after hiring ourfirm,a client once told me that he had spoken with a number of potential firms and that, while every one of them could do the job, in the end, he picked us because our team had the best manners by far. He added, and I quote, We always hire for manners because everything else can be learned on the job. Its an interesting hiring strategy, to be sure. Wouldnt your mother be thrilled? Who would have thought that our firmsunique value proposition in the deal would be manners? Although business protocol welchesnt actually taught in any business school I considered, maybe MBA programsshould start doing just that.So, what can you do to incorporate a little Emily Post into your daily routine? Its not as hard as you might think.1. Focus on the Pre sentWeve all turned into multitasking machines we talk on the phone, check email, travel to the next meeting, and eat lunch all at the saatkorn time. But juggling tasks is overrated and, frankly, unfulfilling for all involved. The person on the other end of the line can tell your mind is wandering as your voice trails off the clicking of the keys in the background is annoying and distracting youre about to sideswipe the guy on your left and food is meant to be shared and enjoyed, not shoved down your throat as quickly as possible. Slow down, focus, and put your full attention into everything you do. People will notice when you do, and theyll appreciate your interest.2. When Youre on the Phone, Smile as You TalkSmiling almost forces you to articulate mora its harder to mumble and slur your words when you smile. And a smile comes through in your voice and tone. I find it also helps to stand up or sit up in your chair when you speak on the phone, because your voice projects better and sounds clearer when you do.Our firmonce worked with a company that put millions of dollars into a fancy customer relationship management (CRM) system meant totouch its customers in meaningful ways. The funny thing is, when you call the companys main number, you get shoved into a phone tree that never seems to end. Its frustrating, and thecompanyno longer lets you push 0 to reach an actual human being. In fact, the company overrode that feature in the system since so many people were using it (which should have been a clue).My first recommendation for the company was to have a real human being preferably one who smiles pick up the phone at least during normal business hours. Thecompanycan hire a lot of people for all the money itspent on the CRM system upgrades and training.Call me old-fashioned, but it really is nice when you can reach a smiling human being on the other end of the line.3. Listen to Your Phones Outgoing MessageI know a professional whose cell phone katechese barks , Im not here. Dont leave me a message on this phone And hes in sales. Would you buy from him? Not likely.Make it easy for people to find you and follow up with you, especially if youre in a people-oriented business. Its perfectly acceptable to say that youre traveling and unable to check messages regularly, or that you prefer people to leave messages at another number. Heck, you caneven to encourage people to send an emailinstead But announcing that you dont welcome voice messages makes you seem unapproachable and cold, neither of which are desirable qualities in business.4.Apologize When You Make a MistakeIts the cover-up or denial, not the screw-up, that ultimately gets you in trouble.Ihad two people not show up for scheduled meetings in the past year. One made excuses and said he would get back to me with dates for a lunch to make up for it (Im still waiting for his call), and the other sent the most beautiful flowers Ive ever seen and called the following day asking when and wh ere we could meet again.Everyone has emergencies or technology snafus to deal with. Its how you handle these situations that show your character. People can become more loyal than they ever would have otherwise if you rectify a bad situation by addressing the problem and making amends. The dog ate my homework didnt work in high school, and it wont work in business. Come clean and make good on your promises.5. Let the Call Go to VoicemailTurn off your cell phone when youre in a meeting and forward your phone tovoicemail when people are in your office. If you start responding to every incoming missive, you send a message that the person youre with just isnt important. People dont care how much you know until they know how much you care, so give them your full attention and be engaged in the conversation thats right in front of you.In a movie theater, before the movie starts, they show the inconsiderate cell phone man ad to remind people to turn off their phones. Do we really need to s toop that low in business now, too? Before I give speeches or workshops, I always ask everyone in the room to silence their phones, and I let them know that Ill collect $20 for every phone that rings and donate the money to a local charity. That usually does the trick.6. Practice Positive Email EtiquetteI call itThe New York Timestest if you wouldnt want to see it on the front page of the newspaper, then dont send the message. Its amazing what gets passed around the office and left on the printer and you can be sure that information will fall into the wrong hands. So, before you hit send after a heated exchange, take a walk, get a cup of coffee, and then read your message one last time to make sure you really want itto go out.7. Acknowledge GiftsA simple Thank you is sufficient. Its embarrassing for both parties to have to follow up to make sure a gift was received. The person who sent the gift isnt fishing for a compliment they just want to be sure their package was delivered. An d the recipient knows they should have responded sooner. Save everyone the hassle, and just drop a quick email saying the giftarrived.A corollary to this is, if someone is responsible for helping you find a job, secure a new customer, or schedulea meeting with an influential person, you should let them know you appreciate their help. A job, customer, or a meeting is a gift in many ways.8.Dont Take It Out on the Receptionist or CashierWhen things arent going your way, dont let the first person you come in contact with take the brunt of your anger. It reflects badly on you, and its likely that whatever went wrong wasnt their fault. So take the high road youll attract more bees with honey anyway.Maybe all good manners just go back to the Golden Rule Do onto others as you would have them do unto you. You may in fact find that good manners will turn into good money I did. So listen to your mother and mind your manners. Its the little things that add up to making a great impression with every encounter. Focus, smile, listen. It doesnt take much these days.

Report IBM has been discriminating against older employees for years

Report IBM has been discriminating against older employees for yearsReport IBM has been discriminating against older employees for yearsLooking for a new job? If youre over a certain age, you may not be welcome at IBM.On Thursday, a new report by ProPublica and Mother Jonesalleges that the tech giant pushes out employees over 40 from their jobs by sidelining them, firing them, laying them off or forcing their rushed retirement, according to internal documents and personal stories provided by over 1,000 ex-IBM workers. In fact, ProPublica estimates that the company has cut more than 20,000 employees who are over 40 - a number that covers 60% of its total U.S. job eliminations - in the past five years.Under theAge Discrimination in Employment Act(ADEA), employers cannot discriminate against older workers. IBM has refuted the claims of age discrimination. We are proud of our company and our employees ability to reinvent themselves era after era, while always complying with the law, th e company said in a statement following the report. Our ability to do this is why we are the only tech company that has not only survived but thrived for more than 100 years.IBM was once known as a company where your loyalty would be rewarded with the stability of a job you could grow in for your entire career. But the stories of former IBM employees tell a different story.Report IBM cuts older employees to correct seniority mixAfter falling behind its competitors, IBM decided to shift its focus to cloud services and big data analytics in 2014. And as part of that shift, the company allegedly began targeting millennials over older employees. In presentations to senior IBM executives, a new goal was reportedly laid out toshift headcount mix towards greater percentage of early professional hires and to correct seniority mix.To make this correction happen smoothly, IBM started pushing its legal weight. After 2014, the company stopped providing lists that included the ages of the people being impacted by job cuts. To get around the ADEAs public disclosure requirement of knowing and voluntary waived consent, IBM changed its severance policy for layoffs. Employees no longer had to waive their right to sue on the basis of age bias to receive it - but now, they could only pursue their age discrimination cases through private arbitration, a process that overwhelmingly favors employers.There were other ways that IBM reportedly made its workplace inhospitable to older employees. The company changed its decades-old policy that supported telecommuting. Now, employees need to commute to distant locations thousands of miles away or face resignation, which had an impact on older employees.They basically knew older employees werent going to do it, ex-IBM product manager Eileen Maroney, 63, said. Older people arent going to move. It just doesnt make any sense. When Maroney was ordered to move from Aegean, South Carolina to Raleigh, North Carolina or face resignation, she resign ed.According to internal communications obtained by reporters, IBM managers also were discouraged from rehiring older workers.Words were not matching with actions. Employees said they were let go for having outdated skills, butwerethen rehired as contractors with fewer benefits and less pay. In a particularly bitter twist, some laid-off workers said they were told to train their overseas replacement before they left.In other cases, IBM employees told ProPublica that they felt forced to take a voluntary retirement or be fired. When 33-year IBM veteran Lorilynn King received her retirement papers, she wrote back in response It was never my plan to retire earlier than at least age 60 and I am not committing to retire. I have been informed that I am impacted by a resource action effective on 2016-08-22, which is my last day at IBM, but I am NOT retiring.

Body language that tells your team how you really feel

Body language that tells your team how you really feelBody language that tells your team how you really feelDo you know that your team is constantly evaluating your emotions through cues in your body language - and that they can do so in a fraction of a second?At the Center for Cognitive Neuroimaging at the University of Glasgow, researchers found that it takes only 200 milliseconds to read someones emotional state from his or her facial expression. So putting on a happy face isnt only a pleasant thing to do, it sends a powerful signal to those who work with you.During a major change, for example, your staff will be on high alert, constantly looking to you for clues on how to react. If you look upset or angry, that negativity can spread like a virus throughout the team, affecting attitudes and lowering energy. Conversely, if you come across as energized and positive, youre likely to make your entire team feel upbeat and optimistic.Of course, its notlage only facial expressions that send a message. Emotional signals come from other parts of your body - including your feet.I was in the audience when the chief executive officer of a financial institute was being interviewed, seated at the front of the stage, facing us. One of his staff sat across from him, reading a list of questions that had been submitted by attendees.As the CEO responded to the first inquiries, he shared his philosophy of relationship banking and the importance of employees to the companys brand. While doing so, his body language was open and relaxed. His posture, facial expressions, and hand gestures signaled comfort and confidence.Then came a series of questions about executive compensation. As the CEO answered these, his body language stayed constant except for his feet From a comfortable, loose leg cross, the executive suddenly locked his ankles tightly together, pulled them back under the chair, and began to make tiny kicks with both feet. He then re-crossed his ankles and kicked his fe et again. And this behavior continued throughout the entire set of compensation questions.If all the audience could have binnenseen was the upper half of the executives body, we might have been convinced that he was still at ease, but his feet told a different story one of anxiety and stress.Another way that leaders show emotion is through their posture. Because the heart, brain, and nervous system are so closely interlocked, your staff can often tell if you are happy or depressed by simply observing how you hold your body. If you are in a great mood, you are most likely walking around with your shoulders back and your head held high, but if disappointed or depressed, your shoulders will begin to round forward and youll cave in slightly at the chest.How you breathe is also telling. Holding our breath is a primitive instinct - a hard-wired reaction (the freeze portion of the flight, fight or freeze response) when facing a threat. Today, even though threats are more likely to be psy chological than physical, any anxiety can cause you to hold your breath or to breathe high in your chest in small, shallow breaths.Leaning is an unconscious way your body indicates emotion - especially your feelings about various people on the team. Positive attitudes toward those you like and whose opinion you respect tend to be accompanied by leaning forward - especially when sitting down. When two people like each other, youll see them both lean in. Leaning backward usually signals feelings of dislike, dismissal, or negativity. Its another hard-wired response from the limbic brain we subconsciously try to distance ourselves from anything unpleasant or dangerous.People will also judge the closeness of your relationships by the amount of eye contact you display the greater the eye contact, the closer the relationship. Theyll notice, too, when you begin to mirror someones gestures and facial expressions because by doing so you send strong signals of rapport or admiration.When memb ers of your staff are evaluating whether this is a good time to approach you, they will check to see if you look open or closed. In the ultimate, closed-body posture, arms are folded, legs are crossed and the torso or legs are turned away. In open and receptive body postures, legs are uncrossed, and arms are open with palms exposed or resting comfortably on the desk or conference table. If your arms are relaxed at the sides of your body while standing, this is also generally a sign of openness, accessibility, and an overall willingness to interact.And when your staff wants to know if you really meant what you just said, theyll check your say-do alignment. If your body language is congruent with your words, people will believe that what you are feeling internally is aligned what youre verbally expressing, and you will be perceived as authentic. But when your words say one thing and your body language indicates the opposite, you are evaluated as uncertain, indecisive, or deceptive.You r voice also conveys subtle but powerful clues into feelings and meanings. Think, for example, how tone of voice can indicate sarcasm, concern, or confidence. Or how an increase in volume and intensity grabs attention because of the heightened emotion (passion, anger, assertiveness, certainty) it signals.The effect of vocal prosody (how you say what you say) is so potent that it can make bad news actually sound palatable or, conversely, take all the joy out of a positive message. Ive seen leaders give unflattering feedback while still exhibiting warm feelings through their tone of voice - and those who were being critiqued felt positive about the overall interaction. Ive seen other leaders offer words of praise and appreciation in such a flat tone of voice that none of the recipients felt genuinely acknowledged or appreciated.This is because the limbic brain, where emotions are processed, also plays the primary role in processing vocal cues. Researchers from the University of Genev a in Switzerland discovered that they could tell whether a subject had just heard words spoken in anger, joy, relief, or sadness by observing the pattern of activity in the listeners brain.Vocal cues are important in any conversation, but they are most crucial when your communication is limited to an auditory channel - as it is on a phone call, a teleconference, or a podcast.As a leader, you convey emotions to your team through the content of your messages and your nonverbal communication but the latter is more powerful than the former. The Human Dynamics Group in MITs Tech Media Lab and the research centers at Xerox found that people are more likely to be influenced not by the spoken word, but by the kinds of signals that you (like most leaders) may overlook your vocal nuances and body language.Carol Kinsey Goman, Ph.D., is an international keynote speaker and leadership presence coach. Shes the author of The Silent Language of Leaders How Body Language Can Help or Hurt How You Lead and creator of LinkedInLearnings video series Body Language for Leaders. For more information, visitCarolKinseyGoman.com

10 career mistakes I wish I had never made

10 career mistakes I wish I had never made10 career mistakes I wish I had never madeIts good to learn from your mistakes. Its better to learn from other peoples mistakes. - Warren BuffetIn the belastung decade, I went from student to entrepreneur to freelancer to climbing the corporate ladder to blogger to teacher.Yes, thats not a normal career path, and its also not what I ever expected. But life hardly turns out the way you expect.Thats because were only human. And humans make mistakes.Recently I received an email from a reader. He asked about my biggest career mistake.That got me thinking. And writing. A lot.And after writing mora than 2000 words about my career mistakes, I thought Wow dude, youve made every single mistake you possibly could.Anyway, Ive cut out the obvious stuff and I made a list of my top 10 mistakes. I hope that one of the points is useful to you.1. Assuming that your career is linearThat is, by far, the most important lesson Ive learned. Firstly, Ive learned t hat assumptions are always bad. We collectively assume a lot of things without ever asking or researching.One of those assumptions is that careers progress linearly. Who ever said that? When I think about it, I have no idea why I believed that in the first place.It goes like thisYou get an education.Get an internship.Stay put for three years.Then try to become a low-level managerAfter a few years you move up.And if you stall, you move to another company for a better paying position.OrYoure a freelancer.You start doing work for free.You keep doing that for years.You cant make ends meet.You get a job.You quit your job because you hate it.You start charging for your work.And you increase your rate a little bit every year.Last one youre an entrepreneur, you start a geschftlicher umgang, you grow, you think youre awesome, you spend more than you make, you try to get investors, they own you, and you fuck up.Again Why do we do that stuff? Its so predictable. Lifes way too short for that bo ring stuff.Accelerate your learning curve. Focus on value. Learn more, earn more. Make leaps. And sometimes when you learn, you take a step back. But thats fine because you will earn more in the future.In todays economy, its more about what you have to offer. For the first time in history, a lot of companies (not all) dont look at age, gender, race, degrees - they care about what you have to offer.So offer some great work. How? Learn faster. Access to information has never been this easy. Use it.2. Prioritizing moneyIve done this. And if you do that, there are three things that can happenYou end up in a sales job you hate.You become an aggressive sales oriented business or freelancer.You say yes to work that crushes your soul.Theres nothing wrong with those things, but they are not sustainable. Im not trying to stop you from earning some cash money.But instead of focusing on money why not focus on other things that are more fulfilling? Things like learning, experience, doing work t hat you are interested in, adding value to other peoples lives.Will most people follow this advice? Probably not because they cant say no to money. Theres only one simple rule to money and freedom Live beneath your means. And yes, thats hard.If you want to know more about how you can train yourself not to depend on money, please read Seneca - Letters From A Stoic. He writes about it a lot.3. Wasting timeYou wont believe how many evenings and weekends Ive lost by watching tv, going out, pointless shopping, or whatever leisure activity.Sure, entertainment is good, but you dont have to relax every SINGLE free minute you have.Look, this is your life, and this is your career. Take it seriously.Can I ask you something? Whats your skill? What are you exceptional at?If you dont know the answer, its time to get down to it. Start learning, practicing, doing, whatever. Do something that turns you into an expert at something.4. Choosing a job over an industryIn the last decade, Ive tried my lu ck in several industries, including hospitality, fashion, IT, and banking. But in recent years, Ive only committed to consulting and education.I wish I did that earlier. Hopping from industry to industry has huge costs. You have to learn the industry, market, people, unwritten rules, you name it.Most people decide what they want to be (or they just roll into a profession). And then they try to find a job - they dont care about the industry as long as it pays. Or, they want to be an entrepreneur or freelancer and they follow the money.But thats not an effective strategy on the long-term because you will never become an expert at something. Instead, pick one or two industries that you love, and commit to finding an opportunity there.5. Getting comfortableAh, Ive worked hard and now Im good. Think again. Youre never safe.Life is competition. The next person is waiting patiently until you mess up, and then they will swoop in and take your position.Is that really true? Well, to be hones t, I dont know. But I sure like to think thats the case.Why? Because that keeps me on my toes. The last thing you want is to become comfortable.6. Not asking for thingsYes, youre a nice person. We get it. But dont be too nice.Other people will take your spot, push you over, and you will end up with nothing. You dont have to be a dick. Just know that when youre in business, its business.And everything is business Art, sports, media, work-relationships, colleagues, you name it.If you want to get something, you have to ask for it. Want a raise? Ask. No one will give it to you. What did you expect?Oh hey, youre such an awesome person. Heres a free bag of money. Never going to happen.7. Not following your interestsThere are two camps on this topic. People who say you should follow your passion, and people who say you shouldnt.The funny thing is, the people who say that you shouldnt follow your passion, didnt follow their passion. Get it? Why on earth would they encourage others to follow their passion? And vice versa.Now, I dont really like the word passion- and I dont like the whole discussion. But all I can say is thisLife is not infinite. Do you really want to spend your time doing shit you hate?8. Not listening to peopleWhen I got my Masters degree in Business Administration years ago, I thought I welches the man. I didnt listen to people who were more experienced than me. Big mistake.Practice is different from books. I didnt realize that.Now I prefer to be humble and listen to everyone. Also, that means listening to less experienced people. They often have the best ideas.9. Wanting too much, too quicklyEven though your career doesnt have to progress in a linear fashion, you cant make giant leaps every single day. And in the beginning, I especially tried to move too fast.But now Im more patient. Before I started blogging, Id written hundreds of essays when I was getting my degrees, and not to forget two big ass theses.And Ive worked in the trenches of business and marketing for years before I started coaching/consulting. No one ever saw that. And thats fine because thats how you learn.10. Not asking for helpMaybe youre too proud. Maybe you think people will believe that youre stupid. Maybe youre not raised that way.But if you dont ask for help, one thing is sure You will never get it.Almost everything in life is a team effort. Even if you work entirely for yourself, you still need people. And they need you.The Self-made success stories are all fake.Whenever youre spreading too thin, reach out to others. Reach out to colleagues, partners, friends, family. They will help you, and if they dont, theyre not your friends.Finally This is your careerWhy NOT take it seriously? Thats one thing I didnt do enough until a few years ago. I was too passive.If you find yourself unhappy with your career, or how its progressing Change. Thats the only universal advice there is.And do it today. You know why? If you dont do it today, when will you?You and I b oth know the answer to that.Thisarticlefirst appeared onDarius Foroux.