Creating digital stories that resonate and inspire

Author: Renee DeVaughn Page 2 of 3

Email Marketing Best Practices

Back-to-Basics: E-mail Marketing Best Practices

email marketing

What is Email Marketing?

Email marketing is an essential tool for business and comes in many shapes and forms. It occurs when a company sends a message to a group of people through electronic email. Most commonly through advertisements, requests for business, or sales or donation solicitation, any email communication is considered email marketing if it helps to build customer loyalty, trust in a product or company, or brand recognition. Basically, it’s every email you send to (potential) customers with the hope of gaining or continuing their business. Email marketing is an efficient way to stay connected with your clients while also promoting your business.

Why is Email Marketing Effective?

There are two reasons why email marketing is effective. First, email is permission-based. The people on your email list have given you the go-ahead to send them messages. Second, it’s easy, effective, and inexpensive. Email marketing allows business owners to reach a large number of consumers at a rate of pennies per message. For small-business owners on a budget, this makes it a better choice than traditional marketing channels like TV, radio, or direct mail.

Best Practices Guide

Sometimes we forget the basics—the most important things of all. But don’t worry, this handy guide is designed to act as your email marketing checklist.

Write Compelling Subject Lines
A good subject line should contain no more than 30-50 characters. It should also create a sense of urgency and give the readers some indication of what to expect once they open the email.

Keep the Main Message and Call-to-Action Above the Fold
If your main call-to-action falls below the fold, then a large percent of your recipients won’t see your message.

Fonts
Use basic cross platform fonts such as Arial, Verdana, Georgia, and Times New Roman.

Keep it Short and Sweet
Emails need to be short and sweet. However, you will want to invest in quality content. How long will users read your email before leaving? The answer to this question is—not very long. You will have less than one minute to capture your reader’s attention.

Tone of Voice
The tone of voice should be friendly and enthusiastic and not too aggressive or sales focused. Your email should make your audience fond of your products. You’re telling them something other people won’t hear.

Make it Visual
If your email contains all text, it could become boring. Illustrations and pictures can make your email look aesthetically pleasing to read and will enhance your storytelling.

Flash or JavaScript
Elements that require Flash or JavaScript should be avoided in emails as these technologies are not supported by email clients. If motion is needed in an email, a .gif is probably best.

Mobile Matters
A large percentage of marketing emails are opened on mobile devices. The best way to drive email engagement on mobile devices is to use responsive email templates. A responsive template will respond to the device that it’s read on. For example, if you read an email on your cell phone, a responsive theme will automatically resize the font, images, and layout to fit the smaller screen.

Test, Test, Test
Most importantly, before you send your email, test, test, test. And, be sure to test on different devices. Create an account to send an email to yourself so you can preview your test before you hit the send button. You will want to do this in conjunction with services such as Litmus. Litmus is a powerful email testing tool that allows marketers to see exactly how clients will view their emails prior to sending their email.

Conclusion

In conclusion, email marketing is an excellent way to reach your audience. You can communicate with those clients that really want to be informed about your products or your company. And, it’s an inexpensive but effective marketing tactic that keeps your audience coming back to your site.

 

 

 

 

Does More Time Off Make Us More Productive?

Does More Time Off Make Us More Productive?

Time off - VacationMost Americans take some time off during the summer, and I’m no exception. Most years I take a staycation. But, in 2013 and again in 2015, I was blessed where I could take my family to Europe. Since I would have no access to phone or email, I had to wrap up all loose ends prior to my vacation so my co-workers wouldn’t have to deal with any messes while I was away.

Those weeks leading up to my vacation turned out to be some of my most productive weeks. Essentially, I had accomplished more work in less time. So, I began to ponder if it was possible to work fewer hours and actually be more productive.

Europeans certainly get more vacation than Americans. By law, every country in the European Union has a minimum annual entitlement of four weeks’ vacation in addition to bank and public holidays. In stark contrast, the U.S. is the only industrialized country in the world that does not have statutory requirements on employers to provide paid vacation, holiday, or sick days. Most U.S. companies, of course, do provide vacation as a way to attract and retain workers. When companies do give vacation time; however, it averages only 10 days a year.

In the U.S., our culture believes, at its core, that the harder we work, the more we will succeed. But, there’s actually no proof that working harder and not taking time off leads to greater success.

The truth, in fact, is that vacations are necessary to our well-being and performance. Taking regular breaks from work greatly improves productivity while skipping vacation often leads to stress and exhaustion. This is why vacations from work are important. Our brains and body need time to recharge. Rest, relaxation and stress reduction are important for people’s well-being and health. Therefore, vacations are necessary for mental and physical health and, in turn, productivity.

Americans need to reassess their perceptions surrounding the relationship between time spent working and productivity. In turn, they will find that they’re healthier, happier and better at their jobs.

Why do Europeans and Americans differ so much in their attitude toward work and vacation? I feel that it comes down to culture. Europeans have a fuller appreciation that life is to be enjoyed. Work is a means to an end, not an end in itself. In stark contrast, Americans are more materialistic and values stuff such as their big homes and cars more than they value time. We all have to pay the bills. But, life will slip past you if you’re not careful. There is a world to be explored beyond your place of work.

Based on my previous experience, I think that awarding more vacation in order to boost productivity just might work. It’s time to start planning my next vacation.

What Makes Me Happy!

Things That Make Me Happy

 

What Makes Me Happy!

During my Philosophy courses, I have explored what some of the greatest thinkers—Aristotle, Rand, Plato, Kant, Bentham, and Mill—have added to the conversation on happiness. Happiness was a much-debated topic but now it is forever being discussed that it has become quite commonplace.

Eudaimonia is a Greek word that means happiness, but perhaps better describes as well-being or good life. Aristotle believed that eudaimonia was reached through virtue. He recognized health, wealth, and beauty as important external factors needed for happiness. In stark contrast, the Stoics philosophers believed virtue alone was enough for eudaimonia.

What is happiness?

Happiness is a feeling of inner peace and satisfaction and is usually experienced when there are no worries or fear. Happiness varies and is different for each individual. It is inside where happiness dwells. Happiness can be extracted from the simplest and most common pleasures in life. One can find happiness when he or she opens their heart to people.

There are basic ingredients for happiness. Following are ingredients that make me happy.

Sunsets

A glorious sunset is the epitome of fleeting beauty. For a few minutes, the sky is a spectacle of color—and then it’s over. Yet the psychological effects of admiring the sunset persist long after the color has faded. For me, when I feel connected with nature I am happier and have more positive emotions.

There are places in the world where people stop for the sunset and to say thanks for the gift of having another day or having seen a spectacular sunset. Santorini is one of the best places on earth as far as sunset viewing is concerned. In fact, few places can match the sheer beauty of Santorini’s sunset views with its cliff towns and amazing ocean views.

Nature

One of my simplest pleasures includes spending time outdoors hiking or walking in the park and exploring nature. Spending time in nature is an essential part of maintaining balance for me. I get an energy boost by taking in the sights and smells of the trees and flowers or being at the beach or in the mountains. I feel a real connection to nature that gives me the solitude and peace I need whenever life gets to be too hectic.

Music

Music expresses emotion, uplifts and inspires, touches the heart, and soothes our very soul. As Confucius once said, “Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without.” Music is a lifetime passion that has been my ally in life. I hope I will never go without it. It creates a mood that sometimes I can get lost in.

Volunteer/Help Others

Research has shown that volunteering has enormous benefits and can often make us happier. It’s no secret that altruism can help us feel healthier and happier. Giving back enables us to grow in unexpected ways. We’re happier when we’re learning something new, teaching someone else, making something better, or fixing something.

Useful

“Nothing in this world is useless in the eyes of God. Not a leaf from a tree falls, not a hair from your head, not even an insect dies because it was of no use. Everything has a reason to exist.” – Paulo Coelho

Most people like to feel useful, that they can contribute and help others.  It provides them with a sense of purpose and of belonging, which are key elements for happiness.  Our first acts of usefulness are usually close to home—calling your parents, not for a special occasion but just to say, “Hi. I love you,” or visiting with a sick neighbor.

Random acts of kindness have the potential to positively impact others. This all takes a leap of faith because you will never know how far the ripples of kindness spreads, but you will feel better about yourself. My most cherished friend often tells me stories where he will buy a complete stranger a cup of coffee or will pay for their train ticket paying forward for another.

Ice Cream or Cherry Snowballs

For me, ice cream or cherry snowballs are life’s simple little pleasures that not only makes me feel better, but these sweet confections have the power to make me feel happy. Life is sweet so dig in!

Smiles

Smiling is the best way to make your own day and spread happiness around to others. Smiling is contagious. Your smile is a powerful tool because it can transform us. It can make us more attractive and lift our mood. Smiles spread. When we smile at someone, we receive one back.

Charles Darwin, the father of the theory of evolution, also explained the theory of “facial feedback response.” It’s simple—our facial expressions contribute to how we feel. We smile when we feel good, but we also feel good when we smile. Think of something good in your life, smile, and see what happens!

Laughter

When enjoying the company of a friend, I laugh hard and feel every moment of the conversation. I enjoy listening to others and when it’s my turn, I talk vigorously and with animation. Laughter really is the best medicine. Like smiling, laughter is contagious. When laughter is shared, it binds people together and increases happiness and intimacy. It boosts your energy and protects you from the damaging effects of stress. Best of all, this priceless medicine is fun, free, and easy to use.

Prayer

Spirituality and religious involvement are linked with greater well-being and happiness, according to studies on the connection between spirituality and health, while prayer is thought to relieve stress.

Play with a Puppy

Anyone who lives with a cat or dog will tell you the immediate joys that come with sharing their lives with their furry friends. Petting an animal is associated with pleasure and happiness and pet ownership has been linked with increased well-being.

Naps

I remember when I was young taking a nap was considered a punishment. Now being able to take a catnap during the afternoon seems like a luxury. Sleep deprivation can up your stress levels. What’s more, researchers have linked catnaps with improved mood, alertness, and productivity.

Forgiveness

“Forgiveness is not always easy. At times, it feels more painful than the wound we suffered, to forgive the one that inflicted it. And yet, there is no peace without forgiveness.” –Marianne Williamson

One of the greatest gifts is forgiving. Forgive yourself. Forgive others. And ask to be forgiven. Few people realize the impact the ability to forgive can have on their happiness. Forgiving people tend to be happier, healthier, and more empathetic.

Forgiving is hard because it takes courage and resolves to let go of negative feelings when we’ve been wronged. Fortunately, it gets easier with practice.

What makes you happy?

Understanding Emotional Intelligence

Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence (EI) has become one of the hottest buzzwords in corporate America. When you open your eyes and look around, there are a lot of examples and anecdotes that may come to mind. Here is an example that drives home the concept of emotional intelligence in the workplace.

Many executive assistants have a high degree of emotional intelligence. They respond to subtle cues and react appropriately. Moreover, executive assistants quickly learn what an executive needs, what their strengths and weaknesses are, what might trigger anger or stress, and how to best accommodate his or her personal style. During my tenure at a large organization, the two senior-most executive assistants had very different personalities. One of them was emotionally intelligent and the other wasn’t. The President’s assistant was always uptight, unorganized, panicked under stress, and did not take accountability for her mistakes or behavior. Oftentimes she would yell at the other assistants. In stark contrast, nothing rattled the other executive assistant. The Chairman’s assistant had a strong personality and was professional, articulate, decisive, sociable, and always remained calm under pressure.

What is Emotional Intelligence?

emotional intelligenceIn a nutshell, emotional intelligence is the ability to understand and manage one’s own moods and emotions and the moods and emotions of other people. When individuals experience stressful feelings and emotions, emotional intelligence enables them to understand why and helps them manage these feelings so they do not get in the way of effective decision making. Individuals with high EI are proven to be effective leaders as they are empathetic, self-aware and hold themselves accountable to how their behavior influences those around them.

Emotional intelligence also plays an important role in how leaders relate to and deal with their followers, particularly when it comes to encouraging followers to be creative. People often talk about creativity in terms of artistic expression. For most people; however, creativity comes from solving the problems we all encounter every day. Creativity involves coming up with something that challenges the status quo. Oftentimes people feel more comfortable sticking to a familiar routine rather than thinking outside the box and heading down an unfamiliar path. Attempting to create something new is often accompanied by anxiety, fear, and uncertainty.

Leaders can either encourage or discourage employees from taking risk to come up with new ideas. Moreover, leaders can also create a favorable work environment that stimulates creativity. Leaders with high levels of emotional intelligence will excel at stimulating and encouraging their followers to act on opportunities that enable creativity to flourish in organizations.

Primary Dimensions of Emotional Intelligence

Researchers have identified five primary dimensions required for effective emotional intelligence:

  1. Self-Awareness – This can be defined as having the ability to recognize and understand your own moods and emotions as well as their effects on others.
  2. Self-Regulation – This is also known as discipline. It’s the ability to control or redirect disruptive impulses and emotions, thinking before acting, taking responsibility for your behavior, and adapting to change.
  3. Empathy and Compassion – Empathy is the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and understand how they may feel or react in certain situations. The more skilled you are in recognizing and anticipating other people’s needs or what motivates or upsets them, the better we can relate to others.
  4. Motivation – Motivation is a passion or internal drive that goes beyond the extrinsic value of money in order to pursue your goals with energy. In order to motivate yourself for any achievement whether professional or personal, you will need clear objectives, a positive attitude, commitment, initiative, optimism, and the desire to achieve.
  5.  Social Skills – Developing good interpersonal skills and cultivating productive relationships is essential to one’s ability to gain higher emotional intelligence and will equal success in your life and career. You must have the ability to effectively communicate clearly and concisely while working with others towards reaching common goals.

In conclusion, the moods and emotions leaders experience on the job, and their ability to effectively manage these feelings can influence their effectiveness as leaders. Emotional intelligence is a critical tool that has the potential to contribute to leadership effectiveness in multiple ways including encouraging and supporting creativity among followers, exceeding goals, and developing and/or improving relationships.

The Importance of Internships

Internships

As you search the job boards, you may notice that internship hunting season is upon us and is quickly becoming commonplace—at least on college campuses. Many universities require seniors to complete an internship in order to learn more about their proposed career. College Career Centers help connect employers seeking interns with students looking for field experience. Internships can vary in nature depending on the employer and the student. Furthermore, they can range from local to international, for-credit or not, paid or unpaid.

The hope of gaining a competitive advantage for future employment has increased both the number and quality of internship applications. In today’s economy, internships have become a significant and important way for graduates to catch the eye of potential employers.

Even employers place more importance on their own internship programs as a recruiting tool for full-time employees.

Internship programs have taken a lot of heat over the past few years. Some for good reason—not every internship is legal according to the Fair Labor Standards Act, especially opportunities where for-profit companies expect candidates to work full-time for no pay.

 

Internship Law 101

As more internships have developed across the country, Congress passed a number of laws regulating them, including the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. More recently, the Department of Labor has come up with six conditions that firms must meet when offering unpaid internships. As long as companies abide by the laws surrounding internship programs, these opportunities should not be written off.

  1. The internship must be similar to training that would be given in an educational environment;
  2. The internship must be for the benefit of the intern;
  3. The intern does not displace regular employees;
  4. The employer derives no immediate advantage from the intern;
  5. The intern is not entitled to a job at the end of the internship; and
  6. The intern understands that he or she is not entitled to wages.

Benefits of Internships

Besides getting a foot in the door with a potential employer and looking good on a résumé, internships have other advantages:

Internship Benefits

Gain Industry Knowledge You Don’t Learn in College

I took a different approach to interning. Returning to college as a highly motivated adult, I was looking to transition into the field of marketing communications after graduation. When I lost my job in healthcare, I decided to pursue an internship in my new chosen field. In 2015 my internship in marketing and communications with the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Maryland Chapter was productive and inspiring. During my undergrad coursework, I learned concepts and theories but I didn’t have the practical hands-on experience necessary for the workforce and this is where the benefits of my internship became apparent.

Acquiring New Skills

Employers know that internships are designed to be learning experiences for students, so not only do you get to participate in multiple tasks, but you are given the hands-on training and feedback that empower you to leave your internship with the confidence to tackle any task at your next job.

I remember very clearly my experience as an intern. I developed digital marketing collateral in line with brand standards that included postcards, brochures, print ads, digital ads, banners, posters, and website images. Additionally, I was assigned an interesting social media project where I created photographic and video communications from storyboarding to publishing in a weekly video series. These videos were then posted to a different media channel. Now, I can demonstrate new talents to prospective employers.

Establishing Relationships and Chances to Network

Another benefit I took away from my internship was the personal references I can use when prospective employers ask for them. While interning at Alzheimer’s Association, I’ve also been able to do some networking and got a few informational interviews and prospective leads on other workplaces that might be hiring.

Your Confidence Will Improve

I’m in the process of searching for a job, and I have a great résumé. I have the confidence and I have the names, references, and organizations to back me up.

In conclusion, internships are a proven way to gain knowledge, skills, and experience while establishing important networks in the field. Moreover, internships are a great way to find out if a specific field is something you could see yourself doing as a full-time job.

Factors that Contribute to Whistleblowing

Whistleblower

Whistleblowing: Factors that Contribute to Management Accountants Reporting Questionable Dilemmas

Whistleblowing is a term used to describe when a person with inside knowledge, usually a company employee, discloses corporate wrongdoing to the public or to internal or external authorities. In the 1980s states began to provide protection to employees who reported corporate wrongdoing. The Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 extended these protections to the federal level. Over the last decade, whistleblowing has escalated in an environment of increased corporate misconduct. Increased legal protections for whistleblowers can also be attributed to this rise. The enactment of the Sarbanes-Oxley Corporate Reform Act of 2002 provided whistleblowers with a new level of increased protection. These increased protections include, but are not limited to, discharge, demotion, suspension, harassment, or discrimination in any way against whistleblowers. The law also established criminal penalties where executives who retaliated against whistleblowers could receive up to 10 years imprisonment. Sarbanes-Oxley also required companies to adopt procedures so that whistleblower complaints could be brought forth without fear of reprisal. The law also includes provisions that streamline whistleblowing cases so they are not delayed for many months or years by administrative hearings and other time-consuming procedures.

The passing of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act placed an increased emphasis on the ethical values of accounting professionals. In their article entitled, Whistleblowing: Factors that Contribute to Management Accountants Reporting Questionable Dilemmas, Tara Shawver and Lynn H. Clements looked at various factors that affect the likeliness of an accountant blowing the whistle. These factors include philosophical values, anonymity, cash reward, ethical climate, organizational commitment, job satisfaction, enforcement of a code of ethics, and job guarantees. This study found the most important considerations when it comes to predicting whether the accountants would blow the whistle were that they were guaranteed their job security and assured anonymity. Other factors such as “job satisfaction, organizational commitment, perception of ethical values, and perceptions of an enforced ethics code are not significant factors in the whistleblowing intentions for this sample of practicing management accountants.” (Management and Accounting Quarterly Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, Winter 2008, p.26).

This article reports on a study containing three scenarios involving unethical behavior in the workplace. The first case involved approving a company purchase of a software program for personal use valued at $29.95. The second case involved using company funds to purchase a laptop and printer for $1,900 intended for personal use of a family member. Case 3 involved the embezzlement of $100,000. The study’s findings showed that the respondents felt that all the scenarios presented were unethical; however, they were more likely to blow the whistle on situations involving higher monetary amounts.

Relation to Ethics

When a company incorporates a code of ethics into its business practices, it helps assure that business is conducted in a fair and professional manner. A company’s ethical conduct should be an integral part of its corporate landscape. Management should encourage ethical conduct in the workplace with the aim of creating an atmosphere of trust within the organization. In that way, if workers trust that managers will listen and fix a problem, then they do not feel compelled to resort to whistleblowing. When trust is present in the workplace, the need for whistleblowing is greatly reduced due to the open and honest policies management has fostered when employees feel safe and secure raising any issue and are confident that the issue in question will be resolved. Research shows that employees are much more likely to report corporate wrongdoing to outside authorities when they feel the company’s management will not be responsive to them. Research also indicates that employees are much more likely to report corporate wrongdoing internally when they believe the company’s top management will address the issue that lower-level managers have ignored.

In its own way, whistleblowing can be a positive piece of a company’s overall strategy for social responsibility. Social responsibility can be defined as “the way its managers and employees view their duty or obligation to make decisions that protect, enhance, and promote the welfare and well-being of stakeholders and society as a whole” (Gareth R. Jones and Jennifer R. George, Contemporary Management, Sixth Edition). Socially responsible companies promote an environment of trust, goodwill, and confidence which are all attributes for a good corporate reputation that can be a competitive advantage when promoting its good and services. That in turn can lead to increased business and profitability.

WhistleblowerWhistleblowing prevents unnecessary harm to stakeholders by exposing unethical practices and corporate wrongdoing. A company is in business to make a profit, but not at any cost. Whistleblowing would identify financial fraud, abuse, waste, and corruption which would negatively affect a company’s performance. Fraud and corruption destroy shareholders’ value and can seriously threaten a company’s development. Companies should incorporate ethical corporate excellence into their business practices. It is important that companies place a high value on fairness, honesty, integrity, and respect with all stakeholders of the company. These stakeholders include, but are not limited to, the stockholders, managers, employees, customers, suppliers, and distributors.

Stockholders who see managers behaving unethically may refuse to invest in their companies, and this will decrease the stock price, undermine the companies’ reputations, and ultimately put the managers’ jobs at risk.

Ultimately, companies will be more effective and efficient so business will be more viable due in part to the companies’ positive reputation and integrity.

My Reaction

I feel that even with protections in place, whistleblowers can still face potential retaliation and can be blacklisted in the industry. Is speaking out going to be in the company’s or public’s best long-term interest? When you make the decision to whistle-blow, you must carefully consider your reason. It should not be out of revenge. You should have the company’s or public’s best interest in mind when you make the decision to go public. Sometimes whistleblowing might be the only way the company or the public can find out about a serious problem or the only way it can get corrected.

The study found that theoretically that whether there was a cash reward was not significant. In reality, whistleblowers have received high monetary rewards. Some whistleblowers have undergone retaliation by job loss or in some cases imprisonment where whistleblower protections breakdown. Consider the high-profile whistleblowing case of Bradley Birkenfeld.

Birkenfeld was a banker who exposed the illegal tax shelters created by Swiss banks for Americans. He received a federal prison term as a result of the information uncovered by his whistleblowing. Ironically, he could also be the recipient of a significant cash reward when the IRS recovers tax revenue that the American accountholders were trying to shelter in the Swiss accounts. What sounds good in theory may not hold up in real-life situations where human nature comes into play. Another problem associated with whistleblowing is the stigma of being a snitch, which has a significant negative image within our culture.

Also, gender may have an impact on whistleblowing. The authors also note that future research would be helpful in considering gender differences when it comes to whistleblowing. Other research casts an interesting light on gender roles. Some researchers believe that men are more likely to whistle-blow than women due to their potential financial gain. Other data suggest that within the last several year’s women are more likely to become whistleblowers as a result of their perceived ethical duty. Such were the high-profile whistleblowing cases of Sherron Watkins, Vice President of Enron, and Cynthia Cooper, an auditor with WorldCom, who was named Time Magazine “Year of the Whistleblower” Persons of the Year for 2002.

The article examines different hypothetical situations for whistleblowing but does not take into consideration human behavior especially in today’s tough economic climate even with protections in place. I believe that it is somewhat questionable that employees would whistle-blow which could place their career in jeopardy. There is always going to be doubt as to just how secure organizational safeguards protect anonymity.

There are a lot of personal variables involving whistleblowing and one is how well people are educated about ethical and moral issues. Another variable centers around cultural differences because different cultures may have varying standards of what is acceptable. That said, whistleblowing can also be open to personal or organizational biases. An additional variable is to what extent these behaviors are traditionally acceptable or professionally acceptable. In my opinion, whistleblowing often is far from black and white – it is more like varying shades of gray because of all the different human variables involved.

Is Your Boss a Bully?

My Boss is a Bully

Is Your Boss a Bully?

Margaret arrived at work early as always and turned on the lights to get ready for her day in a busy hospital in Baltimore. As soon as she arrived, a lost and scared patient had wandered into her office needing help. Margaret’s peaceful morning was shaken when her boss, a VP and a member of the senior management team, arrived shortly thereafter in a particularly foul mood rudely interrupting her discussion with the patient yelling at her to turn on the copier because she needed copies. Margaret’s boss insulted her in front of the patient then later wrote her up insisting it was more important to turn on a copier for her boss rather than helping a patient. Although Margaret knew that her performance was satisfactory, her boss always made her think she could lose her job. In fact, Margaret’s boss often made derogatory comments that she was stupid or that she was never going anywhere in the organization except out the door. Never was any respect shown to Margaret.

Margaret endured repeated verbal abuse in both the office and at off-site company events. Her boss’s offensive behavior and unreasonable work demands led to Margaret’s ongoing humiliation.

Margaret’s boss is considered the classic bully boss. Bully bosses use intimidation and humiliation to keep their employees on task, not realizing that their behavior often has the opposite effect.

Other Signs of a Bully

Since a bully doesn’t always show you their hand, you need to be wary of these signs:
• Your boss ridicules or humiliates you in front of peers or colleagues (or in office-wide correspondence).Examples of Bullying
• You find yourself routinely excluded from important meetings or conversations.
• Your boss reassigns your projects without apparent cause and without consulting you.
• You used to socialize with your coworkers, but now they no longer ask you to join them.
• You dread going to work and feel anxious or nauseated at the thought. You’re often tempted to call in sick.
• Your health deteriorates: Your blood pressure goes up, you experience cardiovascular or neurological problems, you gain weight, or you can’t sleep.
While it may be immoral and unprofessional, it is not illegal in the United States for managers to threaten, insult, humiliate, ignore or mock employees. Nor is it illegal to gossip and spread rumors, withhold information, or take credit for someone else’s work.

Unfortunately, these types of bullying are not rare; they take place with distressing frequency.

Health Risks

Anyone spending a significant amount of time in a hostile environment is going to feel somewhat stressed out. But nearly half of bullied workers go on to develop serious anxiety and depression or other physical health conditions.

Emotional angst affects physical health. When you’re continually stressed, your body pumps out fight-or-flight hormones like Cortisol and adrenaline, causing your blood pressure, heart rate, and blood sugar to skyrocket. That ups your risk of heart problems and diabetes. Adults who are harassed at work are also more prone to migraines, stomach upset, body aches, panic attacks, neurological conditions, immune system disorders, and other ailments.

Margaret suffered from chronic migraines for years when she was continually bullied by her boss.

Impact of a Hostile Work Environment

Bullies do a lot of damage in organizations. A bullied employee shows signs of disengagement and lower productivity. They make subordinates run scared and put people in a protective mode, which interferes with the company’s ability to generate innovation. Add to it the rage the bullied employee feels towards the bully and the negativity felt for putting up with such behavior. In fact, these are hardly prime conditions for doing your best work or any work at all.

Fighting Back

Some quit their job after months of torture, but many employees end up staying for months or years in an abusive situation because of a shaky job market or feel the situation may get better. Even if you want to salvage your position, it can be difficult to get help.

Filing a complaint with human resources may seem like a logical first step, but oftentimes it backfires because HR is loyal to top management. Normally, HR does not want to get involved unless there’s a legal reason to do so. As long as your boss isn’t sexually harassing or mistreating you because of your age, race, gender, sexual orientation, or disability, they are generally within their rights to make snide comments or squash your self-esteem.

Tactics You Can Use

Studies have shown that workers who fight back might have the upper hand in the long run. If your boss is hostile, there appear to be benefits to reciprocating. Employees felt better about themselves because they didn’t just sit back and take the abuse.

Confront the bully in private: For example, “I’m sorry you feel you have to do that, but I will not put up with that kind of behavior.” It can be startlingly effective. Bullies lack boundaries on their own behavior.

The Boss Sets the Example for the Team

Good leaders will see the decentralization of the group and will work to correct it. Bully bosses, on the other hand, will exacerbate the problem by supporting their favorite workers and further abusing the employees they dislike. From the CEO down through each layer of management, every leader sets the tone for how the individuals beneath him or her will behave and is ultimately responsible for the atmosphere in which people work. The boss sets the example for the entire team.

In conclusion, if you ever find yourself in this situation, ensure your résumé is ready in case you need to find employment elsewhere. It may not be easy to secure a new position but no job is worth jeopardizing your health.

Words are Powerful

Words are Powerful

Words – so innocent and powerless as they are, as standing in a dictionary, how potent for good and evil they become in the hands of one who knows how to combine them.” – Nathaniel Hawthorne

Words are PowerfulWritten or spoken, words can have a profound effect on the people they reach. They lift us up, drag us down, wound us deeply, or heal our hearts. Words are like scalpels, every bit as sharp as a surgeon’s tools, and sometimes almost as dangerous. They have the power to break confidences, end relationships, build lifelong alliances, or start wars.

Words are a powerful force and the potent effects of negative words cannot be underestimated. We all know how degrading it feels to be insulted or be told that we are deficient in some way.

We are all guilty of saying things we wish we wouldn’t have. Recently, my words got me into a lot of trouble with my most cherished friend. Having been out of work for months from a job loss, anger and constant rejection sent me spewing venom and uttering mean words treating him unfairly. Instantly, I regretted my words. But, I realized that as soon as the words escaped my lips, they could never be taken back. Sometimes a single remark can remain stuck in the brain for life serving as a toxic seed that grows. This is a sad story and a vivid example of just how a few words can ignite a fire. If only I could take back a few mean words that I said in a moment of annoyance, I would. But it is too late. I wish that I could have tamed my tongue while I had the chance.Please and Thank You

Please and Thank You…

Three little words with an enormous amount of power! When I was young, like most of us, I heard the secret of the magic words which almost always worked. ‘Please’ and ‘Thank You’ were always on top of my mom’s list, and I remember she would demonstrate to us how the toughest hearts could melt when you speak the words earnestly, humbly, and not to forget politely. Oftentimes mom would like to experiment with it around dad who liked to be in control. But my dad’s heart would just melt especially around us girls.

These three simple little words not only make a person feel appreciated, but they are uplifting. The practice of saying please and thank you is something that I implement in my everyday life and comes naturally to me.

What an impact you can have!

Your words have power and can impact a life so choose them wisely, and…

Thank you for reading my blog.

2016 Pantone Colors of the Year

2016 Pantone Colors of the Year: Rose Quartz and Serenity

Each year, the Pantone Color Institute announces a new color that sets the trends in fashion, decor, and interior design. This year Pantone has taken an unprecedented step in choosing not one – but two complementary colors for the upcoming year. For 2016, Pantone surprised everyone with its choice of two colors: Rose Quartz and Serenity. The biggest surprise of all was that they paired the two together. It won’t be long before we see these pastel colors trickle into our daily lives. The colors are set to take center stage within fashion, beauty, fragrance, and home interiors in 2016.

2016 Pantone Rose Quartz and Serenity

After last year’s Color of the Year – the dark and earthy Marsala – Rose Quartz and Serenity are a refreshing change. These colors are a sharp turn after several years of bold colors such as Radiant Orchid, Emerald, and Tangerine Tango. Evoking a sense of calmness, fluidity and balance, the fusion of these shades provide the perfect antidote to busy modern life.

The choice of the 2016 colors is symbolic. As explained by Pantone, it is an attempt to reflect the moods of today’s consumers, who are more than ever in search of life balance, calmness and well-being. The pairing of Rose Quartz and Serenity, commonly known as pale pink and baby blue, radiates a calm and relaxing atmosphere and is an antidote for the modern-day hectic lifestyles.

These peaceful pastels offers a harmonious blend of warm and cool. The colors balance and complement each other but blend beautifully. Rose Quartz is a gentle tone that conveys compassion. It’s the color of flowers and blushing cheeks. Serenity, on the other hand, is airy like the expanse of the blue sky. It brings feelings of relaxation even in tumultuous times.

2016 Pantone Rose Quartz and Serenity

When combined, the colors look like something you’d pick to paint the walls of a nursery, which is exactly what Pantone was going for. But, this doesn’t mean you need to decorate your home like Barbie’s Dream House. When you use these pastels, there are subtle approaches that you can take to incorporate these shades into your interior design.

Decorating with Rose Quartz and Serenity

How is Each Year’s Hottest Hue Chosen?

The criteria for selecting Pantone’s color of the year is not an easy task because the shade needs to work worldwide. This makes the selection process a difficult task.

The color of the year requires careful consideration. Trends are rarely decided by individuals. Instead, they are decided by a committee. One of the most influential committees is a group of 10 people whose names are secret. They meet in Europe twice a year at the invitation of Pantone, a company based in Carlstadt, New Jersey, whose only business is color. This committee of experts formed by Pantone spends months studying the shades used most in the various art disciplines, design, and even the entertainment industry. This first analysis yields a color family, which must also reflect an attitude and a general mood. From there, they go on to select the winner.

In conclusion, the possibilities are endless when decorating with these trendy hues. It’s just a matter of time until the design and fashion industry respond by incorporating these shades into their paint color palettes. In fact, today I was out shopping and have already begun seeing these shades in stores and magazines. Of course, consumers can either go with the trend or wait for a new year.

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