6 WAYS TO SUCCESSFULLY STAND OUT IN THE WORK PLACE

Your success creates success for others and success requires, at least in part, standing out from the crowd and being known for something. To stand out and get promoted, if that’s your goal you need to do outstanding work that will get you seen by your boss and others in management roles. Look for ways you can go above and beyond the daily requirements. Below are 6 ways that can successfully help you stand out in the work place:

STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD: Look for areas in your organization where you can put your skills to use and become an expert. Be known as the person who responds quicker, or be the first to raise a helping hand to volunteer for projects or work assignments where you can use your skills to help other employees, while demonstrating your management abilities.

BE THE PRODUCTIVE FIRST: Lots of employee are the first to arrive each day and this make them feel productive. Well arriving early is part of what you are paid to do, but to be the first and productive; you need to pick a worthwhile mission and excel at that mission, take care of unresolved problems from the day before.

CREATE YOUR OWN PET PROJECT: Excelling at an assigned project is expected, so be creative; by finding out innovative ways to meet customer needs or improve customer’s service experience. You can do this by carrying out task or project in your area of expertise without being asked, experimenting with a new process or service with a particular customer (or company goal) in mind.

BECOME A MENTOR: Share your knowledge with a coworker or people growing in the area of your expertise. You can do this by Coordinating several lunch hour sessions where you provide training to others in the organization in your area of expertise. Don’t wait for someone to approach you; pitch in when it appears they might need some help. Don’t expect any return favors, help others because you want to, not because you expect something in return.

BE MORE THAN JUST AN EMPLOYEE: Act like a consultant and find ways to add even more value to the business. Consultants are hired to assess a current situation and create action plans for improvement. They are paid for their expertise and their calm, professional demeanor, especially in times of difficulty.

IT IS OK TO BE HUMAN: Show a little of your personal side Let people know a little about you; a few personal details add color and depth to your professional image, Just make sure your personal interests don't overshadow professional accomplishments.

IS HE/SHE JUST A TALKER? 5 TELLTALE SIGNS

In an average 10 minutes conversation with a stranger, Psychologist and lying specialist Robert Feldman reckons that we will lie 3 times, and if you actually think about it interviewees would actually be crazy not to embellish and exaggerate their strengths during an interview while underplaying their weakness. It is expected in a competitive job market, and when there is a skill shortage across many professional industries, it is often difficult to select interviewees from large numbers of applicants, and it can be difficult to really get to know someone during the short period of an interview, but consider the following telltale signs that would enable you know if a candidate is just a talker;

Body language: Of course, interview nerves may make the most honest candidate appear awkward at first, but this should quickly settle as he or she becomes more comfortable in your presence. There are many signs that an individual is not telling the truth, and many of these are physical. Staying very still, and breathing heavily can indicate dishonesty, as can sudden head movements or foot shuffling. 

Difficulty speaking: When someone is lying, they become stressed and this dries the mouth. Speech becomes more difficult, and you may also notice lip biting or pursing, or covering the mouth with the hands, in an attempt to close off communication about a difficult subject, any substantial changes in tone, from suddenly dropping an octave to slowing or speeding up speech dramatically, implies that the candidate’s answer isn’t coming naturally to them, it may also imply that they have not been entirely honest about some or all details.

Unusual Presentation: If you are interviewing for a candidate for a management role, and the person in front of you is nervous, jittery, dressed in too casual a manner or unsure of the terminology appropriate for this type of role, this could be a warning sign that things are not quite what they seem. Does the person you are interviewing have the level of confidence that you would expect for the position they are being interviewed for? This is a very important question to keep at the back of your mind while conducting an interview.

Difficulty recalling details: When an interviewee is discussing previous projects and offering examples of his or her experience, you can often gauge the truthfulness of the information by asking for details. Ask how many people were involved in a previous project, or question the statistical success or outcome. If an interviewee claims to have led a project but cannot answer detailed questions, alarm bells should ring for you.

Repetition: If someone is trying to convince you and themselves that they have the relevant experience or skill to take a position, they may repeat themselves in an attempt to justify this. Repetition allows the speaker to take the time to gather their thoughts and think through the story they are telling.

Remember, you might be wrong and you don’t want to write a great candidate off, simply because nerves got the better of them. We spend our entire lives trying to surround ourselves with people we trust and distance ourselves from those we don’t. In the real world it comes down to gut feeling. If something doesn’t sound or look right, rely on your gut instinct and question it further, and don’t be satisfied until you have a satisfactory answer. You might still have been lied to of course, but the chances are your interrogation over a potential lie will have flushed out the truth, or at least a version of it.

WORK ETHICS EVERY EMPLOYEE NEEDS TO KNOW

Work ethics is a crucial part of employment and Plays a vital role in career advancement. Every employee ought to respect their employers and expect same in return, this is where good ethical practice plays a role it isn’t just good for business but it is also essential for growth. 

There may be outlined rules and regulations, company’s policies may even be communicated to all employees during orientation but there are certain core work ethics that sets you apart from all other employees. They are as follows;

Commitment: Dedication is important in all relationships, especially in the business world dedication is often viewed as “contagious,” meaning employees who give a strong effort can often inspire their co-workers to do the same. Although possessing the necessary skills is essential, a strong work ethic and positive attitude toward the job can carry you a long way.

Teamwork: A vital aspect of the workplace is working well with others; that includes everyone from peers to supervisors, to customers. In truth often times not all employees will always like each other, however they do need to set aside their personal or even work-related differences to reach a larger goal.

Behavior: All companies have specific acceptable behavior that is expected from their employees, but as a workers who wants to keep his/her job it is wise to clearly understand the accepted work behavior and strictly adhere to them.

Integrity: A key component to workplace ethics and behavior is integrity, or being honest and doing the right thing at all times, employees with integrity also avoid gossip and sneakiness while on the job.

Accountability: A major factor for a successful career and business is taking responsibility for your actions. That means showing up on scheduled workdays, as well as arriving on time and putting in an honest effort while on the job.

Every job have a unique ethical practice, the above listed ethics stands at the core of what every employee should possess to enable them thrive in the business world and working environment. 

Country with the most public holidays

Workers do a little dance at the sound of public holiday announcement, of course who does not like a holiday? we all know public holiday may result in businesses closing or working limited business hours.

In Nigeria the home of  Busa HR  Public Holidays may often be declared in different states or cities due to significant events or memorials, but here are the public holidays that are observed nation wide (the dates may vary each year especially for religious holidays).

New Years day (1 January)

Good Friday (14 April)

Easter Monday (17 April)

Labour day (1 May)

Democracy day (29 May)

Id el Fitri (26, 27 June)  

Id el Kabir   (1, 4 September)

Independence Day  (1 October) 

Id el Maulud (30 November)                

Christmas Day (25 December)    

Boxing Day (26 December)    

This useful infographics shows the number of public holidays in other countries all over the world.

   source: Business Insider

Public holidays, work free day or not the reality is, if everyone should stop going to work the world stops. So happy Holidays to you, working or enjoying the holiday.