Vanya Wryter Consulting Services

Tag: Work Skills

  • 5 Reasons to Travel for Work

    5 Reasons to Travel for Work

    One way to travel to new places for free: travel for work. All expenses are paid and you experience a new city or town that wasn’t on your bucket list. Of course, you may not be traveling under ideal conditions – you’ll be seeing your coworkers all day – but you may also find surprises.

    If you’re dreading spending breakfast to bedtime with your coworkers, here are five reasons to look at the experience in a positive light.

    1 Experience new places 

    When you travel for work, you see places you wouldn’t otherwise travel to because you couldn’t think of a single reason why you’d like to go there. For example, going to a small town can be a shock if you’re from a big city with plenty of nightlife. You could find yourself going to the downtown core to do some sightseeing, only to find the place deserted by 7 p.m. 

    On the upside, you could find yourself in a tiny village where the tourist highlight is the local coffee shop. If you dare to hike behind the school, you could find yourself in a wooded area, knee-deep in snow while taking in post-card views. You could run into wolves running next to people’s pet dogs or risk falling into a hole in a frozen lake while Skidoos pass you by.

    2 Bond and see a new side of your coworkers

    When you travel to a new place, you could be with your coworkers from morning until night, more than the usual eight hours a day. As you converse over breakfast, lunch, and dinner, you learn more about each other’s family, hobbies, and opinions. Learning about a coworker’s weekend adventures can be more entertaining than talking about work all day.

    If you stay in the same cabin or housing, you also discover each other’s evening routine as you have tea together and chat. If you’re staying at a place without TV or internet, evenings can be entertaining or dull, depending if you prefer reading on your own or chatting with your coworker.

    3 Learn technology skills

    If you’re fascinated by TV shows where the main character has to create gadgets and solve problems on the fly, working in a new environment could give you a similar experience.

    Your usual IT person isn’t around, so if you can’t find a file or your computer doesn’t connect to WiFi (even after you learn the WiFi password), you start to push the boundaries of your computer skills. Or you talk to your computer and beg it to please cooperate for once.

    4 Practice speaking and networking skills

    When you travel for work with coworkers, the experience is great for extroverts but nightmarish for introverts. You’re constantly socializing: talking with your coworkers during meals and meetings, networking with new people such as the host, the client, and anyone they introduce you to. 

    During the day, you may be making presentations or conducting meetings and negotiations. In the evening, the host may become your tour guide and show you around the city. One memorable occasion was when I had dinner at a heritage home. We toured the house with its collection of unique door knobs, a clawfoot tub, and rooftop view.

    5 Test your navigational skills

    Starting from the moment you land, you’re searching your way through the airport to find your luggage and hope it’s also arrived safely and not lost during the connecting flight. Then you need to figure out how to find the transportation that will get you to your hotel while reading a map that is in your second language.  

    In the evenings, you could ask the hotel concierge for a map of the city so you can explore it on your own or with a coworker. You might find yourself at a pop-up market on a cobblestone street, or hiking through the woods in your office clothes.

    Key Takeaways

    Traveling for work can be a memorable adventure. You’ll face new challenges in an unfamiliar environment and experience new places and meet new people. When you return to the office, you may be relieved to see your coworkers for only eight hours a day again, or you might have new topics to discuss when you meet at the water cooler.

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  • Business Review: Insights into Food and Service

    Business Review: Insights into Food and Service

    What do you think of when you dine at a restaurant with excellent food and service? Do you look forward to a wonderful experience?

    You’re likely hoping to enjoy some delicious food with good company. You’re not likely to go to dinner wearing a Consultant hat (figuratively speaking) and analyze what you see with consultant glasses like I do. However, if you do, you may see a familiar experience in a new way.

    As a workplace trainer and business operations consultant, I’m like the average customer who goes to lunch or dinner with family or friends. But, as I interact with staff, I notice many details they don’t.

    It’s amazing what happens from the moment you choose your food and drink to the moment your order arrives at your table. The server rapidly punches your order in her device. Your drinks arrive, carefully balanced on her large tray.

    Behind the scenes, in the kitchen, the cooks make quick calculations so that multiple dishes, each requiring different cooking and preparation times, all arrive at your table at once. At a table for eight, no one feels left out because that one person chose a dish with an extremely long prep time.

    In the distance, you hear that your server is finishing her shift – but your table isn’t finished yet. One person in your party needs to leave early and asks for the bill. The server brings the bill, leaves to serve another table, and remembers to return to take the payment.

    A new server just starting his shift brings the take-out boxes your group requested earlier. You ask for a group photo so the server asks if you want some of the empty plates taken away first. Then he takes several photos in case someone blinked.

    When dinner is finished, your friends make comments about how much they enjoyed seeing each other again.

    But you alone notice all the details that went into creating that experience, from the correctly typed orders, the timing of the dishes, and streamlined service, although your dining time straddled two work shifts.

    In all, it’s amazing what happens behind the scenes to orchestrate the perfect dining experience for each customer.

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  • How to Empower Your Job Search with Facebook Groups

    How to Empower Your Job Search with Facebook Groups

    Facebook can be as powerful a tool for finding work as LinkedIn and Indeed, whether you’re searching for a job or looking for your next client. Facebook communities (or groups) are a source for job opportunities, career trends and advice, and professional support.

    Like searching for the ideal job, your search for the Facebook groups that are the right fit for your needs requires a time commitment and research. Here are some tips for finding career-related Facebook communities that offer the best benefits for your job search and career development.

    Tip 1: Search Keywords Related to Your Career

    The search for Facebook communities that fit your needs is proactive and reactive. Sometimes Facebook suggests groups you might be interested in based on your past searches and comments on Facebook pages.

    Another way to find communities is to type keywords related to your career and then search “communities”. Facebook will list several groups that it thinks are the best match. For example, if you are a self-employed copywriter, you could search “marketing,” “writing,” “freelance,” or “copywriter.”

    Specific keyword search terms may not provide you with as many search results, so broader terms such as “marketing” may give you more community listings. 

    After creating a list of possible groups, read the community description to see if it fits your needs. Is it a group for copywriters to provide advice to other copywriters? Is it a group that allows job postings or self promotion of what you do?

    How many members are in the group? How frequently do group members post in one week? Larger groups with active members and frequent posting generally have more value than groups with a handful of members and one post a month.

    Finally, check the group’s location. A group may have members from all over the world, or it may focus on a particular country or city. If you are searching for jobs in one location, a group for a specific city may be a better fit. If you’re interested in remote work, a group with members from around the world may be the group you’re looking for.

    Tip 2: Look for Career Advice, Job Postings, and Best Practices

    The best Facebook groups for career opportunities have three features.

    First, the group offers job opportunities that are vetted. The moderator(s) check that the job posting seems legitimate, with the salary (or salary range), name of the company, description of the role, and contact person listed. In some cases, a minimum wage (for the industry) is required for post approval to ensure the job meets wage standards.

    Second, the group members are supportive. Members ask for advice on various topics, such as dealing with a bad client or boss, checking that their work contract is legit, suggesting improvements to resumes, and other career-related questions. Supportive members offer their advice in a constructive, insightful, and non-judgemental way.

    Third, the group conversations are monitored by the community monitors. They check that people don’t spam other people’s posts (such as advertising a bitcoin opportunity when the poster asked for advice on a job situation), giving unwanted opinions on a poster’s situation, or DMing (PMing) a poster without permission. 

    Some Facebook groups with thousands of members have received positive opinions from members who have been happy hiring people from within the group (after getting their resume or portfolio). 

    Group members also refer each other after seeing posts and replies from other members over time. For example, if an accountant is repeatedly recommended in a group – that person is likely someone people should consider working with.

    Tip 3: Connect with People in the Same Industry

    Facebook communities allow members to get to know each other over time. This is possible with LinkedIn groups as well. 

    Local Facebook groups have in-person events where you can network with local business owners in the same group or industry. Nation-wide or international groups often have virtual events with the opportunity to network and listen to presentations on business topics.

    These events are a great way to find a future employer or client. Attending regular events builds relationships, and people become familiar with what services or products members offer. Over time, people may refer members to potential employers or customers. These referrals are as effective as references. 

    Tip 4: Update Your Profile for Your Job Search

    Think of your Facebook profile as a resume. When connecting with potential employers or clients on Facebook, you want to be presentable. Your profile photo can be a casual snapshot of you hugging your cat.

    However, you may want to draw a boundary between casual and too revealing. You may want to avoid publicly sharing some of your photos. What photos you would consider private depends on the job you are applying for and how much of your private life you want to share with professional connections. Use your discretion. Some people are very private and don’t like to share family photos with strangers.

    Others like to use their Facebook accounts to promote themselves and what they do. For example, they may post a photo of a convention or work event that they attended. Or they may post updates on upcoming events where they will be presenting or post a product their company is selling.

    If you’re going to be active in Facebook communities for professional connections, check what you’re sharing publicly. What you’re comfortable sharing depends on how public you want your life to be.

    Key Takeaways

    Facebook is a less formal way to connect with people for potential job search opportunities to find work, connect with people in the industry, and get advice from people already working. Many people have commented that they have found jobs and clients after connecting with members in Facebook groups. 

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  • How To Double Your Productivity

    How To Double Your Productivity

    If you want to double your productivity, set reachable goals that turn you into an achiever. Entrepreneur Bill Gates said, “Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years.” 

    Bite-sized goals that you can achieve quickly reward you with the satisfaction of success. Small successes lead to bigger ones. Realistic, measurable goals help you accomplish what you need in a year or ten years.

    In the meantime, tackling your daily and weekly goals is just as effective. Over time, you can increase your productivity and achieve more by following a three-step plan. 

    1 Productivity Assessment at the End of the Week

    Let’s begin with where you are now. Whether you already had goals or not, reflect on what brought you here. What did you accomplish? 

    Whether they are big or small, your achievements are important, so celebrate them. For example, you ate a healthy lunch today. You rocked your job interview. Or you finally bought your dream home. Goals are goals, and they’re all worth recognition.

    Assess what you’ve accomplished. What did you do well? What could you have done better? Some people find it difficult to feel proud about what they’ve done. They don’t want to share their achievements because they are humble or feel uncomfortable bragging when they should. A win is a win.

    Also, look back at what you’ve done and think about what you could have done better. Could you have reached your goal more efficiently? Could you raise the bar for your next goal a little higher? 

    If you fail to reach a goal, set aside time to deal with any negative feelings of disappointment. Provide time for self care. Then decide if you should set a different goal or change it. Maybe your goal was unrealistic and needed a stepping stone. 

    Instead of opening an e-commerce business, first, take a business course. Instead of running long distances, start with shorter ones. The most successful people in the world had to overcome failures.

    Evaluating and assessing will improve your productivity and what you can achieve in a week or a year. 

    2 Check in with Community and Family

    Whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, having community and family support is important for your productivity. Surrounding yourself with like-minded people is vital for self care and inspiration.

    If you’re an introvert, having a virtual community or “family” is a way to help you recharge. Join Facebook groups with a mission or purpose similar to yours. 

    You can post anonymously for advice and read other posts for ideas on improving your health, ways to do your work more efficiently, and inspiration from other people’s successes. It may take a while to find the right community, but investing time is worth it. Another advantage of virtual groups is getting in touch with like-minded people worldwide. 

    If you like being around people, join in-person meet-up groups to be with people who have similar interests as you. Being around people in person has a different energy level than viewing posts on social media or reading about people’s brag moments. Spending time with like-minded people can recharge your energy.

    Spending time with close friends and family is another way to recharge and improve productivity. These people are your cheer squad. They celebrate your successes and motivate you to be your best self. They are also there to pick you up when you’re down and set you on your way again.

    3 Productivity Assessment for the Coming Week

    The third way to improve your productivity for the coming week is to decide what you want to accomplish before the new week begins.

    Start with the big picture first. What are your big goals for the week? Decide on one to three things you want to achieve before the next seven days are over. These could be personal goals – such as a fitness goal – or professional goals – such as finishing a major project.

    Next, break down your major goals into smaller ones. These are your daily goals. Again, they can be personal or professional daily goals. For example, you plan to run for X minutes every day. Another example is to break down work projects into daily milestones.  

    When you set daily, manageable goals, you will have a daily feeling of accomplishment. By the end of the week, you will have a series of accomplishments to look back on.

    Prepare yourself for the week ahead. Some people choose their work outfits the night before to save time. It’s also efficient to prepare your meals for the week.

    Also, set time each day to reflect. Some people meditate. It is a time that you set aside each day to check in with yourself. Too often we focus on getting things done for work or family and forget to check in with ourselves. Are we feeling mentally or physically exhausted? Do we need time for self care?

    Finally, set daily goals for continuous learning, even if all you have is five minutes a day. Learn a new word in your native language or another language. Google a faster way to use a computer program that you use at work. Try out a new recipe. They say constant learning keeps the mind young.

    Key Takeaways

    To double your productivity, assess where you are now and where you would like to be. Set goals to help you achieve your personal or professional accomplishments. Connect with like-minded people who will motivate you. 

    Finally, always reflect on your accomplishments. Could you improve, or have you done the best you ever can?

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  • Amazing Insights on Listening Skills

    Amazing Insights on Listening Skills

    Effective communication is an important skill at the workplace. Our ability to advance in our careers, build a business, or develop relationships depends on how we articulate words.

    Here are some amazing insights into our listening skills. Take a moment to think about what these insights mean to you and how they impact your life.

    • How much are you truly listening to the words that you hear? We hear about 20,000 to 30,000 words a day and listen at a rate of 125 to 250 words a minute. However, we think at a speed of 1,000 to 3,000 words a minute. That means we are filling in the gaps if we don’t hear all the information we expect the speaker to convey. What could that mean about our potential for misunderstandings or jumping to conclusions?
    • Do we remember everything that we hear? Most tests conclude that we only remember about 25% of what we hear. The majority of the time we are listening, we are distracted. Immediately after listening to someone speak, we remember 50% of what that person said, but we will remember only around 25% two days later.
    • What is active listening? Active listening involves more than just nodding while you listen to the other person speak. When we listen actively, we give the speaker our full attention and ask for clarification if needed or more details. Also, we restate what the other person said to show we were listening. 
    • What is a tip for being a great listener? Great listeners know how to follow up on conversations by recalling facts and starting a conversation with openers such as “How is X doing?” or “I remember that you said you were….” They are open-minded about what they will hear and will not have preconceived ideas about what the speaker is about to say.
    • How does positioning affect the conversation? Getting the right conversation environment changes the conversation dynamic. For example, a dialogue with one person behind a desk and the other person standing up will have a different tone than two people sitting next to each other. Similarly, one person speaking while the other is looking down periodically at their phone will also have a different dynamic than two people talking face to face with appropriate eye contact.
    • Importance of listening at work: People with effective listening skills build strong relationships at the workplace. They can build rapport with customers by developing relationships and showing an interest in their needs. Workers who are good listeners understand their work assignments and create trust with their team. Managers improve morale and productivity by listening to their employees and building trust.
    • How do you develop listening skills? Focus on being curious when you listen. Don’t just listen to respond. Use proper eye contact and body language and listen to learn something new.

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