Why feedback makes us anxious (and what to do)

Why feedback makes us anxious (and what to do)Why feedback makes us anxious (and what to do)For some, the end of the year is a dreaded time - performance review season. Even if you dont work in a professional setting that holds annual reviews, you know your aunt will have some feedback about how youre living your life at an upcoming holiday gathering.And receiving that kind of criticism - good or bad - can make you anxious.Why feedback makes us anxiousAccording to Kimberly Leitch, a licensed clinical social worker andTalkspace therapistbased in New York, receiving feedback can beanxietyprovoking because it is a situation where you are being judged by someone, most likely in a position of authority.When you are sitting with someone who is going to evaluate your performance it can inducestress, as the anticipation can cause you to think negative thoughts, question yourself, or even second guess yourself, she said. This can be the case whether you believe that you have room for impro vement or do exceptional work. The thought of being judged by someone who can make decisions about or impact your growth and direction can weigh very heavily.The best way to overcome this, Leitch suggests, is to try to maintain a positive attitude, think positively, and prepare as much as you can.Focus on what you would say about yourself think about your work ethic and the good qualities that you come with, she said. If it is a situation where you are evaluated, then prepare to talk about your positive qualities and how you feel you are an asset and whyyouwould like to hire you.Receiving feedback with less anxietyIf feedback gives you anxiety - or at minimum, butterflies - youre likely looking for ways to alleviate that dreadful feeling. Below are five additional tips to receive feedback with dignity, grace, and less anxiety.1. Try notlage to reactBefore you do anything internally or externally, take a quiet moment. Allow your brain to process the situation, and take adeep breath . The few seconds you take to do this can stop a dismissive facial expression and keep your rush of emotions at bay.2. Dont be surprised if good news is tough to receiveGood news can make you anxious because it may come with something you didnt expect, Leitch said.For example, if you aremeeting with a supervisorand they tell you what a great employee you are, they may want to give you additional responsibilities that you werent prepared for. They may want to move you out of your comfort zone into something mora challenging and stressful then you are used to.3. Ask questions to clarifySince the lack of control and unknowns that accompany feedback are what can trigger anxiety, its important to try and gain control and better understand what is being communicated.Ask questions to make sure that you understand what is being said. Focus on understanding the feedback you are receiving, not on your emotions or your next response.4. Take time to process the feedbackAfter receiving your feed back, let it sink in and allow yourself some time to think about it, Leitch said.Good or bad it may be useful information for you. It may open you up to a new or different perspective that you were unable to see. It may provide insight and how you are perceived by others. It may not affect you, or it may give you the opportunity to change in ways you normally wouldnt have thought to.5. Separate feedback from judgmentAs Leitch mentioned, one of the reasons feedback makes us anxious is because we equate it with judgment.To keep calm, remind yourself that the feedback you receive is not a judgment on your ability or personality. Its simply advice on how to improve, or acomplimenton something you are already excelling in. Reframing your perception this way can make you more open to hearing opinions on your performance, actions, or behavior, and less fearful of failure.Receiving feedback helps us growFeedback is important and it can strengthen arelationship. Knowing that another person ( who is likely close to you and maybe someone you respect) is going to tell it to you straight creates and builds trust. Its one of the only ways we can learn about our strengths and weaknesses - without this knowledge we cant improve.When you let feedback make you anxious, you only add stress to your life and run the risk of missing out on important insights. While feedback isnt easy to give or receive, being better prepared to hear it can make a difference in your personal life and professional performance.This article first appeared on Talkspace.

How to Interview for a Remote or Telecommute Job

How to Interview for a Remote or Telecommute JobHow to Interview for a Remote or Telecommute Job Working remotely, from the comfort of yur home office- or even your couch- is a dream for many job seekers. But finding companies open to telecommute jobs isnt always easy- and even when you do, navigating the waters of remote work can be tricky. Thats why we spoke with Marie Romero, director of talent acquisition for Blue Shield of California , a company committed to work flexibility for its employees. Here, she reveals everything from how you can approach asking for remote work on your resume , to what questions you can expect to be asked in an interview and how you can climb the corporate ladder from home. (If youd like to one day work for Blue Shield of California , this Q&A is packed with helpful info, too.)Glassdoor Why has Blue Shield of California (BSC) prioritized hiring telecommute and remote workers? How do they factor into the larger companys success? Ma rie Romero Blue Shield of Californias mission is to transform health care and ensure access to high-quality health care at an affordable price. This means transforming a dysfunctional health care system that is bankrupting us as a society into one that is worthy of our family and friends and sustainably affordable. We want employees who can be whole-heartedly dedicated to our mission to transform healthcare and that also enjoy family, friends, and passions outside of work. We offer full or parteial remote working arrangement options for many roles because we want to enable employees to bring their best selves to work. Sometimes, that is best accomplished working remotely. Benefits like remote working arrangements are part of Blue Shields larger strategy to be a great place to work for everyone. At Blue Shield, we embrace the whole person. We understand that great talent wants- and needs- flexibility to integrate work and life. We want our employees to embrace their whole life- an d be fully human- which means having strong personal passions and a career with deeply meaningful work. If a remote working arrangement enables you to balance a happy, healthy life , and the business needs are still met, then we support it. What the company stands for is just as important as its pay and other benefits.Glassdoor How can job seekers highlight their willingness or ability to work remotely on their resume? Do you have any advice?Marie Romero Job seekers should highlight their preference or ability to work remotely by adding that at the top of their resume in the location section or in the objective area . Noting open to remote work arrangements is helpful. Mentioning this in the phone screening area or on your LinkedIn profile is also important. Its best to spend time thinking about what your ideal remote arrangement could be- either partial or full remote- before you start a job search. Glassdoor Are the soft skills you look for in a remote or telecommute worker different from those who come in office? Why or how? Marie Romero The soft skills for a successful remote working arrangement are generally the same as those who come to into the office, but they are significantly amplified. For example, strong communication skills, which are necessary for all employees, are even more essential for remote arrangements. A remote employee will need to function fluidly without any of the body language clues you gather in face-to-face meetings. You need to be able to express yourself well- in both tone and content- through phone, email, instant message, screen sharing and video. Relationship building skills are also key for successful remote arrangements. You will need to strive to build productive relationships with colleagues who you may never meet face-to-face. Blue Shield has invested a lot into training for managers and employees on how to create inclusive environments, no matter where the team is located. But the remote employee must ensure th eir physical remoteness from a location does bedrngnis limit his or her effectiveness. Taking initiative is another important soft skill. Every employee must independently structure their work day, determine priorities, work through barriers, and drive for results. However, the remote employee does this without any passive queues from colleagues dropping by to follow-up on a project or bumping into partners in the breakroom. When working remotely, you must motivate yourself and know when to ask for help . It takes honesty and courage to be a great remote employee. You must be confident enough to raise your hand and ask the awkward question if you cant follow the conversation or have lost track of the project. Sometimes, you need to be vulnerable. Without that courage, it can be easy to fall behind and not deliver the results expected. Only you can guard against thatGlassdoor What are two or three interview questions you ask candidates for remote work? Marie Romero In interviewing remote employees, Blue Shield focuses on topics like the ability to collaborate, drive for results, and self-motivation. We may ask questions like How have you established and maintained collaborative relationships with colleagues despite geographic differences? How did you keep the momentum of the project going? Tell me about a time that you handled a difficult interaction or conflict in a remote setting?For remote employees, its important to be able to identify and resolve challenges, especially among team members and peers. Being out of sight doesnt mean that struggles dont happen. During the interview process , Blue Shield will try to identify how successful a remote candidate is at addressing issues quickly and openly. If necessary, we want to know that a remote employee can resolve interpersonal or business issues as easily as in the office. Glassdoor When your team is interviewing candidates, what are some of the traits or experiences that youre looking for in an excellent telecommuting candidate? Marie Romero The traits that we look for in remote arrangement candidates are excellent communication skills and personal courage. Its so important to have every employee know that its essential that they speak up, ask questions, request help when needed, and raise the flag when something is going wrong. Every employee is empowered to speak up. Thats personal courage and it is highly valued at Blue Shield of California. We expect this from employees every day. Glassdoor Telecommuting is popular among the disabled community. Why should they consider working for Blue Shield of California? What makes BSC a great place to work for all abilities? Marie Romero Blue Shield of California prides itself on diversity and inclusion. We have had seven vibrant employee resource groups emerge, including one for disability inclusion . These groups help make Blue Shield a great place to work for everyone by enhancing our collective understanding and empathy about challe nges faced by our colleagues and their families. The Disability Inclusion Employee Resource Group provides programming, support, and community for people of all abilities and their allies. We encourage everyone to bring their authentic selves to work and contribute their best ideas and efforts to our inspiring mission of transforming healthcare. Knowing that you can be entirely yourself at work and that you will be accepted and appreciated because of who you are is fantastic feeling. You dont have to hide or change parts of yourself at Blue Shield to fit in. This makes us proud to be Blue. Glassdoor Often for job seekers, it can feel like remote work doesnt provide room for career growth or promotion. How would you suggest candidates for remote work approach the conversation of learning, development, and growth when speaking to BSC recruiters and hiring managers? Marie Romero At Blue Shield, we believe that you own your career trajectory. That doesnt change whether you are in an o ffice or remote. Blue Shield encourages people to inquire about our host of growth and development programs and opportunities for learning across the enterprise- there are many. But it is also important for a remote employee to be self-aware and reflective about what your career goals are and what are the realistic paths for development. A remote employee may have a very different career path than some others, but everyone can develop a meaningful work experience. The bottom line is that employees should strive to be recognized for the value that you bring to the organization, regardless of your location. You may also need to be flexible and attend some meetings and events in person. Be willing to do that and recognize that the flexibility of working remotely goes both ways. Work ebbs and flows based on business needs, so the working arrangement needs to be flexible too.Working remotely eliminates wasted commute time. Be smart and use that time for self-development, like building new skills , enhancing your working relationships, and learning more about the healthcare industry. At Blue Shield, we believe in growing leaders at all levels and providing growth and opportunity for all employees. Remote employees can participate in several company-offered leadership development and training opportunities, because we believe in investing in our talent and providing everyone with the tools and encouragement to take charge of their own career growth. Its about finding the right balance between being remote, going into the office sometimes, saying yes to special assignments, and keeping hold of the reins on our career. Candidates can talk with recruiters and hiring managers about what some of their expectations are for next steps and their career during the interview. This should be part of determining if the company is a fit for your needs. Think about your expectations before you get into those interviews.Glassdoor Is it still important for remote candidates to ask about BSCs total rewards like wellness, tuition reimbursement, and how BSC builds community, even if they are working remotely or from home? Marie Romero Absolutely All our benefit plans are available to employees whether they are in a building or work remotely. We have an award-winning program called Wellvolution that provides lifestyle coaching and support to our employees. With gym memberships, tuition reimbursement , and online learning and development programs, Blue Shield offers great total rewards programs. We have a robust community life with volunteering, resource and affinity groups, and corporate and personal continuous learning opportunities- as well as three paid days per year to engage in community service of your choice. Every employee can take advantage of these programs regardless of their location. Glassdoor Lastly, what are your top two pieces of job search advice for candidates considering applying to a role at BSC? Marie Romero First, candidates should get to know Blue Shield by checking us out at our career page and following us on Glassdoor , Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. We are mission-driven and leading a transformation in healthcare. We want people who are ready- and excited- to step up to that challenge. What we stand for sets us apart. We get to impact peoples lives in a very meaningful way, every day. If that sounds exciting to you, wed love to talk to youSecond, every job candidate should spend time in self-reflection about what kind of work is going to fulfill you. Beyond pay and benefits, what would make work meaningful to you? Spending time on career self-care and trying to better understand what interests and inspires you is very important. No one can do this work for you, and there are no shortcuts. Clarifying your personal aspirations will help you target roles where you can bring the greatest value. Sharing that insight with recruiters and hiring managers sets you apart

How to Choose the Best Job Offer, Part II

How to Choose the Best Job Offer, Part IIHow to Choose Best Offer, Part IIHow to Choose the Best Job Offer, Part IILast week, I showed you how to decide among multiple job offers, comparing factors like paid time off, length of commute, advancement opportunities, etc. And now that youve figured out what would be the most attractive job for you, its time to accept one and reject the other. Heres how to do both with class.Accept the winning offer firstAssuming negotiations with each employer are done, accept the winning offer before you reject the other. Why? In case the employer of your choice retracts their offer before you get a gelegenheit to formally accept it. Youll at least have a backup plan, even if its your second choice. But if youre not pressed for time, you can say to hell with both offers and keep searching for the right one.If the offer was extended to you by phone, call the employer to accept verbally. Then, send a formal email expressing your excitement about the posit ion and outline the agreed start date, salary, and any other benefits you may have negotiated. Remember The job is not 100% secure until youve signed and returned the companys written offer. That should be sent to you within a few days of your verbal acceptance. Dont reject anyone until thats in your hand.Then, reject the losing offerTurning down an offer can be a bit stressful. You might not be joining their team, but you dont want to burn any bridges in case something doesnt work out with your new job. Whether you reject the offer by phone, email, or snail mail, follow these basic rulesThank them for their time.Continue by telling them that, unfortunately, you have accepted another position and will not be joining the company. You can elaborate on the reasons if you wish, but usually a short statement is all thats necessary.Express your interest in the company and let them know youll keep them in mind if you find yourself looking for a new opportunity the future.Though you might b e tempted to reject the losing offer first (just to get the awkwardness over with), you must be patient and have a backup plan. You shouldnt drag your feet, but dont make a hasty decision either. And always respect any timeline they have about getting an answer from you. If you need more time, theres no harm in asking. Theyll either give it to you or stay strict to their timeline, in which case youll just have to move faster on your decision-making.Have any experiences to share about multiple job offers youve juggled? Post them here.

How to Get in Good with Recruiters

How to Get in Good with RecruitersHow to Get in Good with RecruitersDont burn yur first bridge to the job. Recruiters speak up about what job seekers need to do to win their trust.Increasingly, recruiters represent the bridge between you and placement with a company. Build that bridge, and you may find yourself presented with opportunities you never even considered. Burn that bridge, and Well, we all know what happens when we burn bridges.Ladders collected the advice of recruiters and those who have worked successfully with recruiters to provide recommendations for forging effective, long-term relationships that can lead to promising new professional opportunities.Understand the recruiters job and your own qualifications. Not surprisingly, recruiters said its important that job candidates understand the role of a recruiter. In short, the recruiter is charged with finding the best person for the position the client is looking to fill. If you are clearly not that person, you are wastin g your time and the recruiters by trying to suggest otherwise. It is our job to find and recruit candidates who outshine those available in the conventional job marketplace, said Jeremy Spring, vice president of business development and a recruiter at Elever. When introducing yourself for consideration, try and objectively evaluate how your experience aligns with what the recruiters client company seeks. If you do not have VP-level experience, no recruiter will consider referring you for a VP-level position.Know whether you are working with an internal or external recruiter.There are two kinds of recruiters internal and external. Internal recruiters work with one company external recruiters work with many. An internal recruiter will have more intimate knowledge about a companys culture and inner workings, while an external recruiter will have a broader reach. Job candidates should work with the formers deeper knowledge of the open position and the hiring managers as well as with the latters wider field of contacts.Be proactive. An executive recruiters success is based on the relationships he or she is able to maintain, said Elevers Spring. He recommends spending time researching the recruiting firms operating in your professional space. Most recruiting firms, large and small, deutsche bundespost available roles on their Web sites and provide contact information for the individual consultants working to fill the role, he said. An introductory e-mail or phone call will put you on the recruiters radar. If your experience is aligned with the open position, a referral might result. If it does not, at least youve opened a dialog that might prove useful on other engagements.Dont be short-sighted. If youre contacted by a recruiter and arent currently in the market for a new job, dont be downright dismissive. You never know when you will be looking, and you want to remain in recruiters sights. You may not need a job right now, but thats not a sure thing at any point in the near or longer term, said Roy Cohen, author of The Wall Street Professionals Survival Guide and a career coach. At the very least, thank them for the call and ask how best to stay in touch.Be respectful and polite. Recruiters who spoke with Ladders said, almost to a person, that respect and politeness is very important, but they dont always receive both from job seekers. Be sure to thank recruiters for their time, and follow up with an email to check in. Politeness is a huge key to cultivating a long-term relationship with a recruiter, said Nicola Huns, owner of career services site Careerbuzz.com.Be mindful of the recruiters time. While its important to follow up with recruiters, dont cross over into pest territory. One big thing for candidates to do to get on a recruiters good side is to respect the recruiters time and not take up too much of it, Huns said. Recruiters are normally extremely busy people, and candidates who call multiple times in one day will be pushed to the s ide because they are too intense and disrespectful. If a candidate does not hear back from a recruiter, he or she should call them once and leave a message only once emphasizing how interested they are in the position.Treat your conversations with recruiters like you would any interview.Too many people take their conversations with recruiters too casually, experts said. They added that you should be as prepared for your conversation with a recruiter as you would be for a conversation with a hiring manager. After all, if you dont get past the recruiter, you wont get in front of the hiring manager. Treat your introductory phone conversation like an interview, but without the suit-and-tie conventions, Elevers Spring said. We want to hear about your accomplishments in tangible terms, since thats how well need to present them to our client company.Consider constructive criticism.Its important to remember that the recruiter is working for a client and is paid to know exactly what that cli ent is looking for in a job candidate. If the recruiter provides advice on ways to position your accomplishments to align best with those expectations, it would behoove you to accept the suggestions graciously. The recruiter knows what will and wont fly with a particular client, said Matt Scheihing, president of JMiles Personnel Services.Provide referrals. While recruiters have much to offer job seekers, job seekers have much to offer recruiters. Referrals are recruiters bread and butter passing along the names of qualified peers will definitely improve and extend your relationship with a recruiter, whether you are a fit for a current job or not (and may benefit a job-seeking colleague at the same time). If there is one thing a recruiter loves, it is getting names of good people they can place, said Tony Deblauwe, founder of consulting firm HR4Change. If you arent interested or a fit when a recruiter calls, offer to give them names. Over time, you will get called again, and the gest ure of giving referral puts you in front for future opportunities.

Are You Selling Yourself Short on Your Resume

Are You Selling Yourself Short on Your Resume Are You Selling Yourself Short on Your Resume Modesty? Theres a time and a place for it, but trying to land an interview for your dream job is certainlyneither.Your resume is your personal marketing tool. If its not selling your skills, achievements, and experience effectively, its putting the brakes on your job search.Want to knowif your resume is selling you short?Check out the following tipsAre You Holding Recruiters Attention?Researchshows recruiters look at a resume for an average of six seconds before deciding whether or not its a fit. Those six seconds are your opportunity to make therecruiter believe your resume is worth reading in full. Have you included a powerful personal profile and core skills section at the top of your resume? If not, youre selling yourself short.Your personal profile should be a short, punchy paragraph that highlights who you are and what your key strengths, achievements, skills, and experiences are. Dont underestimate the importance of this section. It could be the difference between an interview and a resume that ends up in the bin.Next, your core skills section should be an easy-to-read, short list of your top skills. This is your opportunity to prove to the recruiter that youve got what it takes to carry out the role. Check out the job description. The skills you listin this section should be directly relevant to the role.Put yourself in the shoes of a potential employer and read your personalprofile and core skills section out loud. If it sounds a little run-of-the-mill, try again The section should make it clear that youre a valuable, skillful, and exciting candidate.Are You Being Too Modest?Remember all those amazing skills, qualifications, and achievements youve gathered over the years? Now is the time to show them off.Even if youre super humble in your day-to-day life, your resume isyour chance to brag (politely). Just make sure your statements are relevant and true, of cou rse.A great way to ensure youre showing off your skills and keeping the reader engaged is to switch from the passive to the active voice. Take a look at these examples. Can you see how explaining your achievements in the passive voice distances you from your accomplishments?Passive A promotion was awarded to me after only 6 months.Active I was promoted after only 6 months.Passive The companys social media followers increased by 80 percent within 4 months of being managed by me.Active I increased the companys social media followers by 80 percent within 4 months ofassuming management duties.If you want to land interviews, be sure to include lots of action words like achieved, discovered, generated, identified, tested, and upgraded.AreYou Including Numbers?You cant make a bold claim in your resume and expect a recruiter to be impressed if you dont quantify it. Using numbers will help recruiters understand your skill level and seniority.Which of these statements sounds more effective?Le ading a team or Leading a team of 25 across 3 countriesIncluding figures is much more likely to impress a recruiter. Including numbers also shows that youre results-focused. If you dont highlight specific results, the recruiter may as well assume you havent actually generated any.What size was the budget you managed? How many locations did you work across? By how much did the company revenue increase after you were hired? What was the size of the team you managed?Dont worry If youre in a more creative role, there is still room for figures. How many news releases did you write in a week? How many shares did the video you filmed receive? How many people read your articles? By how much did the bounce rate decrease after you redesigned the website?Are You Proving Your Impact?All applicants can claim theyre good at something - but only the best prove it. When listing your previous roles, dont just list your responsibilities. Recruiters are interested in specific achievements and the res ults you generated for the employer.Did yournegotiationor project management skills help the company save money? Make it clear. Did your time-saving skills lead to extra resource availability? Jot it down.Give examples of problems you faced and how you solved them, backed up with facts and figures whenever possible. Lastly, if you received any significant industry recognition or awards, make sure to highlight them, too.Andrew Fennell is the founder of UK-based CV-writing advice website StandOut CV.Master the art of closing deals and making placements. Take our Recruiter Certification Program today. Were SHRM certified. Learn at your own pace during this 12-week program. Access over 20 courses. Great for those who want to break into recruiting, or recruiters who want to further their career.

Uncommon Article Gives You the Facts on Personal Banker Resume That Only a Few People Know Exist

Uncommon Article Gives You the Facts on Personal Banker Resume That Only a Few People Know Exist Even though you may perform a number of tasks as a personal banker, your capacity to keep immaculate records and carefully input information into databases is important to landing work in your area. When you produce a personal banker resume, make sure that you concentrate on your capacity to use a wide variety of computer and accounting computer software. You have to be good with numbers. You ought to be proficient in numerous accounting program. Perhaps while trying to find examples you noticed poor samples all over the internet. If youve got an extremely lengthy description, then its fine to incorporate the specifics all on a single line and make a distinct line for those results. It is extremely easy to read because it presents your info in an organized fashion. Youll find more details on different kinds of skills for a resume in the previous section. What Personal Banker R esume Is - and What it Is Not The roles and duties of an entry level banking professional is dependent on the kind of position they work for. Maybe you will truly work as a shop manager in five years time, in the exact bank, and perhaps youll have a totally different occupation (or are living in another country). In the majority of companies, its considered entry level. Today the personal banker does much more for a broader selection of people than previously. The Secret to Personal Banker Resume Presented heres a typical case of a personal banker job description. You can receive the work even in the event you experience an entry level Accounts Payable resume. Supplies might not be delivered. If you are searching for Free Resume Samples then youve come to the proper spot. Usually, you can choose to publish References located on request. Choosing Personal Banker Resume Is Simple Getting licensed and certified is a wonderful thing. Because anyone can find with a similar lo oking list. First off, you must discover the correct job offerone that fits with your professional interests and experience level. Well, you must know that no hiring manager will be impressed with the list of your abilities either. Though many employers do not need certifications, it would arrive in handy once you are trying for career advancement. Dont concentrate on only one facet of the job. Interviews for individual banking positions typically concentrate on responsibilities and essential skills essential for the position, such as financial wisdom and strong customer service abilities. Personal bankers should have excellent interpersonal and communication abilities. They must have excellent customer service skills and the ability to gain and maintain their customers trust. Listening to their requirements and communicating pleasantly are essential to foster excellent relations with them. If youve got the essential experience, utilize the reverse chronological. As soon as youre done Get rid of all of the skills you just have a simple grasp of. Assess how good youre at every one of your abilities and talents. The majority of their customers are private citizens of the communities where the bankers do the job. A personal banker accounts for the bulk of client interactions at a financial institution. He will work through the problem with the customer until it is resolved. You have earned the great personal banker resume. Focus on why the business should hire you as opposed to why you would like to work for the provider. Entry-level jobs quickly offer six-figure salaries. Furthermore, you can look for investment banking jobs on Monster. Adept at working independently or as an element of an expert banking team. Particularly if youre writing an accredited personal banker resume. Becoming a Personal Banker is a good method to begin a career in the finance market.

How to Toe the Line Between Fun and Productivity In Your Office - Spark Hire

How to Toe the Line Between Fun and Productivity In Your Office - Spark HireAs a manager, you want to ensure that your employees enjoy coming to work each day, but that their time is being spent productively. In order to successfully maintain a balance between productivity and fun at work, keep these tips in mindTake meetings outside when possible On nice days, consider taking meetings outside. The fresh air helps to stimulate creativity and energy levels, particularly in the mid-afternoon when team members may start to feel worn down and sluggish. Some managers even like to do walking meetings, with occasional pauses to jot notes down. These meetings are often much mora inspired than the traditional conversations that happen around tables in conference rooms.Design the office for collaboration Productivity does not necessarily equate to working silently in a cubicle. In fact, some of the most creative ideas are formed when groups of employees are able to work together to brainstorm and solve problems. To promote an office that is both productive and fun, design spaces that encourage collaborative work. Include open areas with plenty of tables and chairs where employees can gather together to work and talk about ideas. This also helps to foster a sense of camaraderie that is good for morale.Encourage wellness When employees feel better physically, theyre happier at work. For this reason, many companies find it beneficial to support employee wellness programs. They may help to offset the cost of a gym membership, or may allow their staff members to take a longer lunch so that they can squeeze in a workout during the middle of the day. Since studies show that people who workout get sick less, have more energy, and feel more positive, these small sacrifices often provide major benefits for that organization in the long run.Let employees select office furniture Your staff members will spend a lot of time at work, so you want them to feel comfortable with their surr oundings. To help ensure that this is the case, you can have them pick out their chair and desk. This promotes physical comfort, while also showing that they are a valued part of that office.Lastly, dont forget to celebrate small victories. Its easy to get so caught up in the stresses of the work day that you forget to enjoy small accomplishments. Though the achievement may be minimal, celebrating makes that office a much more positive and pleasant place to work, thus, boosting employee happiness levels.leumundOlesiabilkei/Bigstock.com