The Dress Code Dilemma

What kind of image do you project at work? Regardless of your level of employment or career path, it’s always a good idea to project a polished, competent image. But these days, when many offices don't have dress codes, it's hard to know what to wear to work. While a casual dress code is a nice perk, it doesn't mean that anything goes. 

Whether your office has a strict dress code of none at all, there are a few commonsense guidelines that will help you look your best and gain respect in the workplace.

1. The goal is to look professional for your work environment. Look at the highest ranking female employee in your organization and mimic her style of dress. If she’s wearing business suits to work every day, then you should consider doing the same. On the other hand, if she’s wearing jeans to work every day, then maybe a business suit is too far over the top for your office. That’s not to say that you need to wear jeans to work every day, but maybe dressing up for your organization doesn’t require the classic business suit.
2. Avoid distracting accessories. Bangle bracelets, dangling earrings and garments that are too flowing are all things that distract from a professional image. Opt for more fitted garments, studs instead of hoops and closefitting bracelets instead of charm bracelets. And while we’re on the subject, avoid too much perfume. It’s annoying -- and sometimes even toxic -- to those around you.
3. Even if your office has a casual dress code, make sure your clothes are neat, clean and pressed, your shoes polished and your nails manicured. Your hair should be clean and neat. It’s all about attention to detail and caring about your appearance.
4. Avoid loud patterns and colors. That blouse with the florescent pink and orange flowers might look great on the dance floor, but it won’t do much for you at the office. Stick to subdued tones and prints.
5. Remember this: In the workplace, you want people to notice you because of the work you’re doing, not the clothes you’re wearing.  

Effective Meeting Tips: Evaluating Your Meetings

Poorly run meetings are a special kind of torture, aren’t they?  There’s nothing like having 1,001 things to do and then realizing you have a planning meeting for the next quarter that’s likely to take the rest of the afternoon… Especially when you know that chatty Darla is going to monopolize the discussion, as usual, and 75% of the time is going to be spent talking about unrelated topics, like your boss’s fantasy football team or new favorite skin cream. 

You don’t have to suffer in silence.  There is hope for dull, ineffective and inefficient meetings!  If you’re in charge of meetings that keep seeming to get away from you, implement meeting evaluation procedures at the end of each group meeting.  This is a great way to get feedback about what went well, what needs to be improved, and suggestions for next time.

If you aren’t in charge, suggest to the meeting organizer that your organization or company implement a quick meeting evaluation after the meetings that tend to be particularly unproductive.  Instead of approaching the situation as though you’re making a complaint, put a positive spin on things.  You could say, “I just read this blog post on meetings, and I think it had some great tips!  What do you think about this meeting feedback form?  Do you think it would work for us?” 

Here is a sample meeting feedback form you can adapt to suit your needs:

Meeting Feedback Form

Date:
Name (optional):

Your feedback is essential in helping to ensure our meetings are as productive as possible. Please take a moment to fill out the form below and circle the responses which best reflect your feelings. Your honesty and constructive recommendations are greatly appreciated!

1. How did this meeting’s productivity compare to our previous meetings?

1	2	3	4	5
Much worse		About the same		Much better

2. In your estimation, was our time used effectively in this meeting?

1	2	3	4	5
Not at all		Somewhat		Absolutely

3. Did the agenda help to organize the topics of discussion?

1	2	3	4	5
Not at all		Somewhat		Absolutely

4. Was the majority of our discussion oriented towards the present and future? (Did we avoid dwelling on the past?)

1	2	3	4	5
Not at all		Somewhat		Absolutely

5. Did you have a good understanding of what the meeting objectives were?

1	2	3	4	5
Not at all		Somewhat		Absolutely

6. Do you feel the objectives were accomplished successfully and efficiently?

1	2	3	4	5
Not at all		Somewhat		Absolutely

7. What went particularly well at this meeting?


8. What needs to be improved for the next meeting?


Good luck, and happy meeting!

Strengthening Your Communication Skills

Good communication skills are essential in the workplace. Whether you need to write an email to a co-worker or a memo to the entire office, it is important to communicate clearly and effectively. By doing so, you will lessen the chance of misunderstandings and subsequent headaches.

To be a strong and efficient communicator, you must be able to both send and receive messages. Here are a number of tips to help strengthen your communication skills.

Plan your message. Think before you write or speak. The first and most effective way to avoid communication confusion is to consider who your audience is and what he or she would like to know. Ask yourself a few simple questions before you begin communicating with another person:

• What is the purpose of my communication? Why am I sending this message?
• Who is going to be on the receiving end of this exchange?
• What is the best way to send this message (via telephone, email, letter, or in person)?

After asking these questions, take a moment to think about what you would like to write or say in the most succinct way. Try to avoid conveying information that isn’t necessary. A long email or telephone conversation does not necessarily result in better comprehension of the message you are trying to send.

Consider how the recipient of your message will perceive it. If you are sending a message to your boss’s boss, you would not use slang or informal remarks in an email to him or her. This could be perceived as disrespectful or unprofessional—therefore, using the right tone when crafting your message is crucial.

In terms of written communication, always take the time to review your work. Grammar, spelling and your use of jargon or slang are important factors to consider when composing a letter or email. By misusing an abbreviation or overlooking an incomplete sentence, you may cause more confusion. 

Be sure to think about the many forms of sending messages. If the topic of your message is time sensitive or requires a great deal of detail, perhaps it is better to use the telephone. If the topic you would like to discuss may cause the recipient to become emotional in any way, perhaps explaining it to him or her in person might be the best route. On the other hand, any message that is short and simple could be sent via email.

When you are the recipient of a message, be sure to listen carefully or reread a letter or email at least twice. Many misunderstandings come from haste, so in order to be an expert communicator you must also be an effective listener and precise reader.

Miscommunication can happen, however, it doesn’t have to happen all the time. Try some of these tips and see if your communication skills improve!

Surviving the Slump-- High Energy Tips for Your Workday

It’s 3:10pm, and you are exhausted. You feel like you’ve been working for at least 10 hours, and you are willing to give up your slice of the office birthday cake for a nap.

We’ve all been there, but you don’t have to feel like this every day. We have assembled some sure-fire ways to get you feeling peppy (or at least functional!) by the time 3:15pm rolls around.

• Avoid coffee or energy drinks after 3pm.  This may seem counterintuitive—the caffeine in coffee is supposed to make you peppy, so why would you avoid it just as you hit your afternoon slump? The answer is that caffeine consumed after 3pm can disrupt our sleep patterns. It can make it more difficult to fall asleep, and it can prevent you from entering the deep sleep that your body craves. If you want to feel rested throughout the day, avoid caffeine after 3pm.

• Have some super snacks handy. Sure, you may want to raid the vending machine for your afternoon snack, but the highly processed items you’re going to find there are likely packed with sugar. While the initial spike in your blood sugar may make you feel like you’re flying high, the sugar crash will come sooner than you think.  You’ll feel even worse than before you had your snack.  Instead of snacking on a candy bar or chips, try one of these healthy alternatives:

• Almonds or cashews
• Raisins or other dried fruit
• Fresh fruit
• Peanut butter on whole grain bread or crackers
• Humus
• Cheese

• And, if your only options are standard vending machine fare, try to choose something with nuts.  The protein in nuts will help give you sustained energy and will cushion the sugar crash a bit.

• Stay active! There are a number of exercises you can perform while at the office; however, changing your daily routine slightly can have a huge impact on your stamina throughout the workday.

• If you work on the 2nd or 3rd floor of your building and are able to, skip the elevator when you’re going down to the lobby. Even doing this once or twice a day will help you gain some energy.
• Take a few minutes every hour to stretch your arms, legs, neck, and torso. Try sitting up straight and raising both arms into the air, reaching for the ceiling. Hold your arms there for 10 seconds and then alternate extending your right arm and then your left arm a few times.Instead of calling or emailing your co-worker who sits at the end of the hall, walk over to his or her office if you have a question. 
• Try walking around your office or outside your building instead of taking your break by the water cooler. By just getting up and moving, you are increasing your heart rate and blood circulation—preventing your arms and legs from becoming strained. And if you are able to go outside, getting fresh air and ample sunlight will provide an instant boost of energy.
• Take a few deep breaths. This is also a great stress reliever.

If you have any other great tips to avoid the midday slump, be sure to comment below!