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How To Strike A Balance Between Work And Personal Life

These past few days, I had the luxury to tune out all my worries and to immerse myself in a 3-day vacation. This brief retreat sent my state of mind into its reset mode. My renewed self became more efficient in the workplace. I, for one, believe in creating a balance between work and personal life.

The core of balancing these two areas is satisfying both your sense of achievement and your hunger for enjoyment. Achievement is gained through growth in the workplace while, indulgence is gained through engaging in enjoyable activities. How do you divide your time, money, and effort to these two areas? It is something that you have to discover on your own.

Meanwhile, may the following tips help you in establishing a work-life balance.

#1: DRAW A CLOCK

In a recent training conference that I attended, the speaker shared how her subordinate juggles fifty preschool students on her own. She faced the challenge head-on while maintaining a household. What is her secret? According to her, the key is time management.

An individual must carefully manage his or her time to achieve what needs to be done. Prioritize your tasks and divide your time accordingly. These are some of the categories that you may follow:

a. urgent and important,
b. important and not urgent,
c. urgent and unimportant, or
d. neither urgent nor important.

Now, let us move on to your personal clock. It is easy to bury yourself into your job when faced with a significant personal issue. However, putting said issues on hold may take a toll on your career. Personal issues (e.g., involving your relationships or health) matter in the long run.

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Image Credits: HollyEma, via Flickr

#2: CHOOSE THREE THINGS

Prioritizing is vital in creating a balance between the your personal and your professional life. The root of prioritizing depends on determining what matters to you. For instance, Randi Zuckerberg limits his priorities into three main categories. Randi chooses between work, sleep, relationships, and fitness. Yes! He is the sibling of Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg.

After uncovering what matters to you the most, you can realistically define the “parameters of success” in each one. What do you have to do to achieve each of these category? Do you need to distance yourself from the activities that distract you from your priorities? Or, do you need to say “no” to some people?

#3: MANAGE YOUR FINANCES

Feeling confident about your finances will help you with both your personal and professional life. The expression “money makes the world go round” is still relevant in this day and age. The amount of cash-flow that circulates throughout your financial reservoir affects the life you lead. It is one of the biggest challenges that Singaporean households face on a daily basis. Hence, finding time to manage your finances is a must!

Track your spending by writing each expense on a piece of paper. To make your life easier, you may download accounting software or financial apps such as Spendee and AceMoney.

#4: LET GO OF PERFECTIONISM

Aside from toxic relationships and unnecessary spending, there are other things that you need to let go. Consider dialing down your “perfectionist tendencies” to maintain sanity. Aiming for perfection develops at a young age. It starts with keeping up with the demands of getting high marks. As you grow up, life gets more complicated.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

I learned the hard way that you must not be too hard on yourself. You cannot be in control all the time. When things do not go as planned, acceptance is the only option. Letting go of perfectionism can help you avoid burnout.

Sources: 1 & 2

Work in Romania as a foreigner

The Romanian job market might be difficult for expats that want to work here. The salaries in Romania are pretty low and the competition is very high. Still, if they manage to find a job here, non EU citizens must have a valid work permit, while the EU citizens need to apply for a residence permit. Usually, the employer should take care of all details regarding the application for the work permits, since it is strictly related to the specific job. Moreover, for a company to be able to employ a foreigner, it needs to first demonstrate that there are no fit candidates from EU that can fill in the role, since EU candidates have priority.

Romania has an increasing economic potential, still, there are a lot of large areas that are dedicated to agriculture or undeveloped. On the other hand, the tourism has increased consistently since Romania has a natural beauty and lots of cultural attractions making this industry interesting for investors and development. The most popular domains in which expats can work are the energy and resources industries, but also the manufacturing and industrial sectors. Also, in the services sector the country offers a great potential of new jobs, since there is a high and growing demand for qualified expats with experience in: retail, finance and business services. Moreover, the human resources sector is growing as well, as a lot of HR agencies are looking to hire for executive positions for multinationals and lager companies, such as Dacia, Rompetrol, Romstal, Birdefender, Mobexpert or Petrom. Romania’s main export partner is Germany, importing rubber tyres, car parts, insulated wire or even cars.

For those expats that don’t want to work a corporation there are a lot of NGO choices or even teaching. No matter the industry, most expats works in Bucharest. As experience demands, most companies require fluency in French, German, English or Italian, and IT certificates. On the other hand, the factor that makes it hard for expats to find jobs here is that most companies prefer to hire local citizens, instead of having to deal with the entire process of hiring foreign citizens and obtaining work permits for them. Therefore, the Romanian Government tries to find new ways to attract foreign business owners to establish a branch or subsidiary here and invest into the Eastern European economy. Ever since the communist regime has ended, Romania has had a sustained economic growth that has also continued after 2007, when Romania joined the European Union. In the past few years, even though the country was affected by the global economic recession, it managed to keep modest levels of growth.

Therefore, Romania has a lot to offer for expats looking to work in the country. When an expat outside EU finds a job here and the company manages to prove that there was no EU candidate fit for this position, the company must also prove that the candidate has the necessary experience and qualifications for the job. In order to obtain him a work permit, the employer must attach to the file the resume, criminal clearance, medical checks and reference letters from the candidate. The process of getting the work permit can take around 45 days. After the employer obtains the work permit and gives it to the expat, he must apply for a long-term visa at the embassy from their country.

After getting to Romania, non-EU expats must get a CIF (fiscal identity code) by registering at the Romanian Ministry of Finance. In order to submit their request, they will need to present a copy of the employment contract, alongside their work permit, visa, passport and a proof of residence. The long-term visa and CIF are needed in order to obtain a stay permit from the General Inspectorate for Immigration, and it must be done 30 days before the long term visa expires. In addition, the expats will need to provide medical clearance, proof of residence, identification and salary.

In conclusion, non-EU expats have to go through a more complex process of getting their rights to work in Romania than EU expats. It is highly recommended to get legal advice if you encounter any unclear things, in order to be sure that everything is according to the Romanian law regarding your employment.

How To Deal With A Stingy Boss

Frugality is an admirable trait, in most cases. Frugal people are typically prepared to tackle the bumps ahead. They are also able to cut down their environmental wastes. However, giving a reaction is essential if the frugality of your boss pulls down your productivity and lowers your workplace morale.

Keep these things in mind before approaching your boss:

WHEN DISCUSSING ABOUT MONEY

As most of the things in life, timing is everything. Choose the appropriate time and place to approach your boss. For instance, you must not discuss about the loss of a major account after your boss got into a car accident. It is not appropriate to discuss serious matter over a phone call either. Remember to equip yourself with respectfulness when discussing money matters.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

Be polite when asking your boss for what you need or want. Be prepared to graciously accept whatever his or her answer is. Do not whine!

WHEN RUMORS CIRCULATE

It goes without saying that the portability of social media influenced how gossips can circulate on a wider scale. With rumor mills running on hyper-drive, people rarely invest their time into validating each one.

Say that there is a rumor about how your supervisor’s errors plummeted the sales of your company. Without adequate research and lack of communication, you can easily make negative assumptions. This is why learning the full story is important.

WHEN ASKING FOR GROWTH

Loyalty is a two-way street. There is a fine line between sacrificing for a company that you love and recognizing that you are taken advantaged of. If you are offering your continued loyalty to an employer for over 5 years then, you deserve to be compensated.

When a cheap boss fails to recognize your value, it can stroke a sizzling fire of discontent.

WHEN YOU FEEL UNDERPAID

If it seems as though your employer is exhausting you in unnecessary proportions then, you may approach him or her for a pay raise (or a better schedule at the very least). You do not need to let your emotions get in the way! You will only sound conceited and demanding. Instead, start the conversation on a positive note. Praise how well the company is doing in the past quarter or the recent months. Afterwards, you may ask how this affects the employees.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

The next step is to do your research. Be prepared to show your employer how your salary stacks up in comparison with people with similar jobs. You are more valuable than you think; otherwise, they would have fired you a long time ago!

Sources: 1 & 2

How To Be A Positive Influence In The Workplace

There is a considerable amount of weight in Newton’s third Law of Motion. According to him: “every action has an equal and opposite reaction”. Simply put, forces always come in pairs! No matter how small your action may be, it can either cause a positive or negative influence in the workplace.

Aim to radiate a pleasant effect in the workplace by considering the following ideals:

A Two-Way Street

Let us start with the basics. Without a shadow of doubt, influence is a two-way street. The more that you let others to incorporate their ideas to your vision, the more that they will be open to incorporate your ideas to their work. Take time to listen to your co-workers’ opinions and acknowledge their worth. You may also encourage other people to speak up.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Being Polite Goes A Long Way

During a child’s crucial years, etiquette is one of the first things that you are expected to instill. You need to highlight the importance of treating others in a way that you want to be treated. Being able to say “please and thank you” in suitable situations can cultivate mutual respect. Whenever you are delegating a task to your subordinate or asking a favor to your boss, it is better to display good manners. People will go above and beyond to assist you when they are treated with courtesy and admiration.

Having good manners shows that you care about your co-workers the people around you. Furthermore, it can open doors to building lasting friendships.

The Familiarity Principle

I am going to introduce you to an interesting concept in Social Psychology – the Familiarity Principle. According to this principle, we are attracted to the people who are familiar to us. Repeated exposure to “familiar people” will increase our attraction toward them. We are magnetized by the people who share the same interests, attitudes, behaviors, or beliefs. Apply the Familiarity Principle to your workplace by finding a common ground between you and your co-workers.

Start by making time for casual conversations. Ask them about their weekend or rejoice over the upcoming holiday. Small talks can uncover parts of their personalities (e.g., food preferences) and can lead to meaningful conversations. Remain professional without prying or over-sharing. Building positive interactions with the people you work with will make challenging situations less stressful.

Bond with your co-workers outside of the workplace by taking the initiative to plan events or to dine outside. Having a good relationship with the team makes any workday fun!

Show Your Flexibility

There are two types of people in the workplace. The people who are receptive of change and the people who are resistant of it. Assertiveness is a truly positive trait. However, pushing your own beliefs to others can work against you in the long run. Showing your flexibility in every situation and accepting better opinions can increase the respect that people have for you. This does not mean that you have to let go of your beliefs entirely!

Firmly hold on to your beliefs when someone contradicts you. Then, arrive at a mutually acceptable solution. No matter how stubborn a person may seem, they are more likely to approach you when you show your flexibility.

Let Them Help You

Do you believe you know everything? Well, think again! You are not an omniscient being, nor is your boss. Every day gives us an opportunity to learn new things. Broaden your knowledge by learning something new from your peers and supervisor. Intellectual curiosity proves your humility and maturity. After all, you must let others to influence you in a positive manner before being able to influence them in the same light.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Never be afraid to ask questions or to request help. If you are stuck with a certain project or assignment, ask for help! Accept support instead of settling for a mediocre result.

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

Immediate Steps On Dealing With A Promotion

Several people are fortunate enough to receive a promotion. The glistening promotion is a chance to better yourself and your existing skill set. Higher roles entail more responsibilities and expectations. Some of your previous co-workers may be happy for you, while others may pull you down!

Consider these tips to guide you with the new challenge ahead.

#1: DO NOT WALK IN THE DARK

When I was given the coveted promotion, a series of thoughts ran through my mind. I was deeply concerned about my new supervisor. Keep in mind that the internal roles will shift due to this promotion. Budding relationships, such as the aforementioned, shall work smoothly if you keep the streams of communication open.

Aim to schedule an appointment between you and the supervisor (or the HR representative). Discuss your upcoming responsibilities and duties, especially the operating systems that you are not familiar with. You may be tasked to hire new employees, track the department’s invoices, deal with employee reimbursements, or document employee hours. No matter what your new tasks are, you need to be familiar with the protocol for each new responsibility. Do you need your supervisor’s approval before hiring and employee?

#2: TAKE A STEP BACK

Be honest with yourself as you contemplate on the type of leader that you aim to be. Do you want to be respected or feared? Do you want to build a bridge or a gap between you and your team members? You can be a great leader and a good friend by slightly altering your behaviors.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Some experts suggest that you must totally disconnect from your team members (i.e., including in social media). This is due to the changing workplace dynamics. You do not want others to perceive that you favor a particular person due to the “preferential treatment”. You may still attend happy hours but, not often as before. Katy Tynan, the author of Survive Your Promotion!, suggests that you continue to spend time with your team members as you need to blow off steam sometimes. Furthermore, bonding experiences let them know that you can vent out whenever necessary.

#3: SET THE FIRM TONE

Changing the manner of your speech is crucial in your daily interactions. From making a stellar interview to filling a complaint, your tone needs to change as you dive in different scenarios. Being a loyal friend on one hand and a critical boss on the other is a challenging task. Thus, you need to set a firm and authoritative tone when you are in the workplace.

Ensure that your team knows that you have their backs. However, they can no longer vent out in a “gossipy” manner. Use your bond to find a concrete solution and move forward in a professional manner instead. Focus on a solution that values customer satisfaction and employee happiness.

#4: ESTABLISH A DIALOGUE

People react differently when it comes to internal promotions. As their new supervisor, you need to be emphatic with their initial thoughts. Actively listen to their feelings and do not be swayed by them. If you dive a little deeper into a conversation, they may start comparing themselves to you. Hurtful statements such as “my performance is better than yours” or “I have more experience than you”. Defending yourself may lead to damaging your professional relationship (e.g., by saying “the CEO did not see a great managerial potential in you”. That is not healthy! It is difficult to spend your days trying to repair the relationship while focusing on your new position.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Work together to reach a beneficial solution. Communicate your desire to talk to each team member over lunch. Let the department know about your goals and how these will be actualized. It is important to cultivate a two-way feedback between you and them.

Sources: 1,2, 3, 4 & 5

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