Don't fish for compliments when seeking out feedback When seeking on-the-job feedback, avoid common mistakes that may skew the information, such as fishing for compliments, focusing on things that can't change, or ignoring harsh criticism. Prioritize feedback from colleagues who aren't necessarily nice to you, suggests professor of business psychology Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, as this helps bring to the fore weaknesses and criticisms that can then be worked on. Fast Company online (9/17)Voice your opinion to promote positive change, but tread carefully Be cautious when speaking up about objections to evolving principles at your workplace because you may be viewed as disloyal, suggests Jonah Sachs. Consider others' viewpoints in your argument, and focus only on changes for the company, rather than those that affect only you. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (9/17)
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Making the Connection
Micro-networking vs. macro-networking on LinkedIn Be mindful when networking with others on LinkedIn, making sure to ask yourself why you're connecting with that person and how it may benefit you, Colleen McKenna suggests. A micro-networking approach to LinkedIn focuses on connecting only with people closely matching your career goals, while a macro-networking approach casts a wider net. Business 2 Community (9/17)
The "Work smart, not hard" message, which promotes white-collar jobs over blue-collar work, is partially responsible for increasing the skills gap and student debt, says "Dirty Jobs" host Mike Rowe. "We've laid out a road map that says the best path for most people is also the one that's the most expensive," Rowe said to attendees at the 2018 HR Technology Conference & Exposition in Las Vegas. SmartBrief/Leadership (9/17)
Your Next Challenge
Be likable in an interview to leave a lasting impression A job interview is not to see if you're qualified for the position; it's to see if you're a good fit for the company culture, Art Markman explains. So, to have a great interview, focus on developing a good rapport with the hiring manager and answer questions with confidence and energy, Markman suggests. Fast Company online (9/17)How to answer job-interview questions about past failures Have one or two answers ready heading into the interview about glitches in your career so as not to stumble over answering the question. Use honest examples that show how you had a failure, learned from it, and then improved upon on it, Isabel Thottam writes. Glassdoor (9/17)
Balancing Yourself
Strategies for reducing workplace stress Schedule in a few minutes at the end of the day to de-stress through simple breathing exercises and mindfulness. "Your perspective of stressful office events is typically a subjective interpretation of the facts, often seen through the filter of your own self-doubt," says Sharon Melnick, a business psychologist. CNBC (9/11)
The Water Cooler
50,000-year-old wolf pup, caribou found in Canada The mummified bodies of a wolf pup and a caribou, likely from the time of the Ice Age, were found in Canadian gold mines, and the remains are in exceptional condition with complete fur and tissue. They are estimated to be about 50,000 years old, and the Yukon Paleontology program thinks the specimens are among the oldest mummified mammal tissue ever discovered. USA Today (9/17)
Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.
