How to Nail Your Exit Interview

Exit interviews are conducted by the employer or the HR personnel to learn more about the position and the reasons for turnover. The organization wants to know why you are leaving. Moreover, they want to take it as an opportunity to think critically about your experience. Use this to provide feedback and suggestions.

What did you learn from your position? How might the organization improve? Here are some things to keep in mind.

#1: PREPARE YOURSELF

Jobs play a huge role in our lives. Leaving a job can stir a pot of strong emotions. So, it is best to prepare. Treat the exit interview like any other interview by practicing your answers. Anticipate the questions and research the possible answers.

#2: FIND THE POSITIVE

Regardless of your experience, you need to find something good about it. Perhaps, you learned a new skill from your boss or had incredible workmates. This is the time to be specific about the people who helped you along the way.

#3: REVIEW COMMON QUESTIONS

Be honest and calculated when it comes to answering the exit interview questions. Consider the following sample answers.

a. Why are you leaving?

“I really enjoyed working here and learned a lot over the course of my employment. However, I found a job with more opportunities for growth. It is time for me to go in a different direction.”

b. How do you feel about the management?

“Overall, I am grateful and satisfied with how the management guided me with the position. However, there is always room for improvement. Management sometimes overlooked the ways they could utilize my role and I felt stagnant. You can empower the employees more by encouraging innovative ideas and providing new tasks that will ignite their creativity.”

c. Did you receive proper and adequate training?

“The best thing you can do for the new hires is to make sure that they understand their roles and supply them with tools to perform their job well. You can also incorporate the discussion of career enrichment in the onboarding process.

Personally, I did not always feel that the resources were enough for me to do the job well. I think new hires can benefit from more frequent training. To fully prepare new employees to meet the company’s expectations, management might consider additional training for them. Current employees may also get refresher courses to maximize their abilities.”

d. Would you recommend the company to others?

If your answer is yes, please explained why you want to genuinely endorse them to your friends and family members. If your answer is no, you can consider the sample answer below.

“If someone asked me if they should apply here, I would ask them to elaborate their background and preferred work environments. This organization may not be suitable for everyone, but it could really work well for certain people.”

Image Credits: pixabay.com

On an employee’s last day, the organization wants to gain context around why an employee is leaving.

End the exit interview conversation by wishing everyone well and by opening doors for (potential) return.

Sources: 1 & 2

Read More...

6 Tips to Cultivate Teamwork at Work

Why is teamwork vital in the workplace? Well, teamwork can lead to multiple benefits including greater efficiency, workforce productivity, increased innovation, higher employee morale, and improved retention.

Given that some or most of the staff are working remotely, fostering teamwork in the workplace is not easy. This article offers suggestions for cultivating teamwork both in virtual and physical settings.

#1: SET CLEAR GOALS

Describe what each employee is supposed to accomplish and not how they should accomplish it. Explain the expectations in terms of the outcomes and elaborate the team’s goals. How each employee meets these expectations will vary. You need to trust them.

#2: ENCOURAGE GIVING SUPPORT

Cultivating an environment were asking for help is not a sign of weakness. Getting the work done requires time and focus. When you need inspiration or support, ask for it. People who are experts on the field can teach you new ways to solve the issue at hand.

#3: DIVIDE THE LOAD

Teamwork does not mean everyone does one task together. It requires breaking each component into parts. Then, the team sorts out who will do each part according to availability and expertise. A credible project manager will help with the organization of these parts.

#4: CREATE A REVIEW PROCESS

Review meetings enable the team to be on the same page. It gives each team member the chance to politely critique the team’s work. Encourage the employees to question the project from different angles. Often, you will catch things that would otherwise get missed.

#5: CELEBRATE WINS TOGETHER

Appreciate the challenging work of each team member. Take time to extend your gratitude for the specific contributions to the team. Celebrate your wins together as you achieve a milestone towards your goal.

#6: HIGHLIGHT THE BENEFITS OF COLLABORATION

Teamwork does not only benefit the organization, but it can also boost camaraderie and increase job satisfaction. Working in teams provides employees more opportunities to unleash their creative ideas. Having a sense of belonging sure helps in reducing stress too. The dynamics and strength of your team directly affect business outcomes.

Sources: 1 & 2

Read More...

How to Politely Get Out of a Meeting

From the moment you receive an invitation, you can already predict whether the meeting will be unproductive or not. How can you decline politely?

A meeting will take more than an hour of your time, so you can see if the other party would be willing to update you over email or short phone call.

Sometimes, even well-meaning people forget that time is not infinite. A straightforward query or reminder can help. Here are other strategies that you can apply.

#1: PRIORITIZE IMPORTANT MEETINGS

Not all meetings are created equal. Just because you have been invited to one does not mean that it is essential. Start by examining which meetings are important to attend and which are not.

The most essential meetings are the ones in which decisions will be made. If your team is choosing to launch a project, you cannot make the decision over email. Meetings that will need brainstorming or sharing of opinions should be done in person or through a teleconference.

You must also attend strategic meetings, which allows you to develop a unified vision of where your organization is headed.

#2: ASK ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

Make it challenging for the other party by asking the following questions upon receiving an invitation:

1. What is the exact topic?
2. What is the meeting’s duration?
3. What is the time and location?
4. Who will be in attendance?
5. What decision needs to be made at the meeting?
6. Why is my attendance crucial there?

Image Credits: pixabay.com

#3: ENCOURAGE MEETING NOTES

Many organizations have staff meetings for information sharing. These meetings involve listening and learning about the current plans and events affecting the team. You may not have a crucial role in this meeting, but you need to stay informed.

Bring up the idea of having someone keep meeting notes during the session, so people who will not able to attend can have access to the information that was shared. Read the meeting notes instead.

#4: EXIT GRACEFULLY

If the meeting no longer pertains to you, politely ask if you can step out. It is alright to request to leave early, especially if you are busy. Message the meeting organizer to explain that you are trying to manage your time and prioritize tasks.

Meetings take up an average of 62 hours per month of employees’ time. Many professionals attempt to cope in a passive-aggressive way by showing up late to meetings or by fiddling with their gadgets.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

The strategies above provide a better way to politely get out of meetings to protect your time.

Sources: 1 & 2

Read More...

How to Deal with a Micromanaging Boss

Imagine watching a puppeteer manipulating an inanimate object for a show, except that show represents your professional life and the puppeteer is your boss. Isn’t it upsetting?

Having a micromanager as a boss can be a source of stress and frustration as it impacts your day-to-day life.

A micromanager tries to control every aspect of the work, no matter how small the detail can be. Employees can feel distrusted, dissatisfied, and disrespected. Prolonged control over all the aspects of an employee’s work may negatively affect his or her wellbeing and productivity. Quitting can be seen as a viable option if the employee can no longer deal with the situation.

However, it does not have to be this way!

#1: IDENTIFY THE TRIGGERS

Trying to understand the triggers for your boss’ micromanagement can help you be better equipped to deal with the situation. Start by identifying the reasons why he or she micromanages.

Often, micromanagers do not realize what they are doing. Perhaps, your boss micromanages because he is under a lot of stress, or he has a terrible experience with the previous employee.

Experts say that micromanaging can also be rooted from a personality trait. Individuals with strong organizational tendencies find it difficult to delegate tasks to others. These people find it hard to trust someone else to do the job as well as them, or to complete a task within their expected timeframe.

#2: ASK WHERE YOU CAN IMPROVE

Being polite and direct will serve you best. Ask your boss about the areas that you can improve on to address the company’s needs.

You can also be open about how your boss’ management behavior makes you feel by providing specific examples.

After sharing your thoughts on your intention to improve the collaboration and support, advise your boss that you are most productive when you are given the autonomy to meet those needs. You can also set weekly check-ins to alleviate the hovering.

#3: PROVIDE UPDATES REGULARLY

Micromanagers want to be in control. They want to check-in on your work to make sure that things are going smoothly to the schedule. Since micromanagers cannot do everything by themselves, they do their hardest to stay as involved as possible.

Try being proactive when sending regular updates before your boss has a chance to ask for these from you. List the things you want to accomplish within the day and email it to your boss. Regularly sending updates can serve multiple purposes.

Firstly, your boss knows exactly where your current workload stands. Questioning can be minimized. Secondly, your boss will realize how detail-oriented you are and that you can manage your own responsibilities without intervention. Lastly, it can help your boss address immediate concerns at one glance, which can reduce frequent check-ins.

#4: BUILD CONNECTION AND TRUST

Do you agree that trust is the key to any healthy relationship? Be it personal or professional, trust can build a solid foundation for you and your micromanaging boss.

When your boss does not trust your decisions and abilities, he or she will always monitor you. Developing synergy and building trust by creating time to connect and sharing what you are currently doing can help your situation. This allows your boss to create a space for growth.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

Shifting your micromanaging boss’ leadership style is not easy, and change is not immediate. As an employee, you can show your boss that you are trustworthy and responsible to inspire that change over time.

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

Read More...

How to Bounce Back from a Costly Mistake at Work

Take a step back. We all make mistakes at work, and no one is perfect!

Depending on the gravity of the mistake and your tenure with the organization, a timely resolution may solve your problem. Whether you missed a deadline or came unprepared to a client meeting, the most important thing is to act and address the situation sooner rather than later.

On that note, here are eight steps you can take to deal with your costly mistakes at work.

#1: BE ACCOUNTABLE

There is no point in hiding your mistakes or finding a scapegoat to cover up your problems. Be accountable for the mistakes you have made. These are part of the learning process that can help you become better at your job. Assess your part in the situation and acknowledge where things went wrong.

#2: BE ABLE TO EXAMINE THE SITUATION

Look into the issue with fresh lenses. Pretend as if someone else made the mistake to evaluate what happened with an objective eye.

Ask yourself these questions:

What actions led to the mistake?
What is the severity of the situation?
What should the person have done instead?
What are the consequences of the mistake?
How can the situation be prevented in the future?

#3: BE OPEN TO A PRIVATE MEETING WITH YOUR SUPERIOR

Setting up a private meeting with your boss may not always be necessary, but you could schedule one if your mistake led to serious repercussions.

Be direct, factual, and honest during this meeting. Apologize for your mishaps and explain what happened. Your boss does not need to listen to your excuses!

Image Credits: pixabay.com

#4: BE APOLOGETIC

A sincere apology goes a long way. Other people can still be held accountable for the mistake you made. Your boss and co-workers may step in to fix the issue too. So, being apologetic is important in maintaining these professional relationships.

#5: BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS

Instead of whining about your mistake, focus on finding a solution. Once you determine where things went wrong, you can figure out how to fix it. Leaders appreciate people who bring solutions instead of problems. These types of people are usually considered to rise to the top.

#6: BE ACTIVE IN SOLVING THE PROBLEM

Do everything within your power to ensure that the issue gets remedied or fixed quickly. List all the viable solutions and review which one offers the best outcome. Stay in the path throughout the process even if the resolution has been taken out of your responsibilities. It is still vital to know how the solution was executed for future references.

#7: BE OPEN TO CHANGE

You should constantly adjust your flow until you find a work routine that suits you best. If you are always late in submitting your reports or if you are always sending the wrong proposals, you must do something to turn things around. Incorporate healthy habits such as using a planner or meditating for a few minutes. Apply healthy habits to improve your focus, concentration, and productivity.

#8: BE KIND TO YOURSELF

You can be your harshest critique. Eliminate any negative self-talk, learn from the mistake, and move forward. The mistakes you make will not ruin your career. Instead, your reaction to these mistakes can break you!

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Sources: 1 & 2

 

 

Read More...