Trusthaven Consulting Inc.

17/07/2021

16/01/2020

How to Stop Constantly Checking Your Phone.

It can be hard to focus with all that beeping and buzzing from your phone. Fortunately, there are simple ways to reduce distractions. Start by turning off push notifications. If that doesn’t help, use airplane mode to limit interruptions when you’re trying to focus. If the idea of being out of touch gives you anxiety, you can always make exceptions for specific numbers, such as those of loved ones or important business colleagues. Try to check email, instant messages, social media, and text messages in batches, rather than sporadically throughout the day. “Just quickly checking” anything, even for one-tenth of a second, can add up to major productivity losses — it can take an average of 23 minutes to get back in the zone after task switching. It’s OK to not respond immediately to a message. Aside from the benefit of giving you more uninterrupted focus time, delaying can lead to better decision-making by giving you more time to think about your response.

This tip is adapted from “10 Quick Tips for Avoiding Distractions at Work,” by Steve Glaveski

15/01/2020

Don’t Let Work Stress Keep You Up at Night.

Work stress is inevitable, but it doesn’t have to get in the way of a good night’s sleep. Try these strategies during the day to avoid worrying about work at all hours of the night. Make a to-do list. The act of writing down uncompleted tasks allows you to put them out of your mind. You also might consider keeping a journal, where you write down your thoughts and feelings. Putting pen to paper can help you process emotions and reduce anxiety. Get some exercise. Physical activity — even a single instance — decreases rumination, which is often linked to insomnia. Or practice meditation. Researchers in the Netherlands found that even small amounts of mindful meditation (10 minutes before and after work for two weeks) helped calm racing minds and improved sleep quality and duration. Lastly, be easy on yourself. Self-compassion can often break the cycle of negative thoughts that keeps you up. Work stress may be inevitable at times, but these strategies can increase your ability to wake up feeling refreshed and able to tackle your biggest challenges.

This tip is adapted from “How to Stop Thinking About Work at 3am,” by Rebecca Zucker

06/12/2019

Pursue a Passion Outside of Work

We are often told to pursue work we’re passionate about, but for many people, this simply isn’t feasible. Luckily, research shows that doing something you care about outside of work can benefit both your personal life and your career. Look for ways to craft your job to allow for more time for non-work passions. For example, if you have some autonomy over your hours, start your day early to make more time in the evening for cultivating other interests. These extracurricular activities can be a way to develop skills, meet new people, or decompress. To find the right activities, ask yourself what you care about that you haven’t been able to pursue in your job. Outside of work, you have the freedom to try new things out, so experiment. Remember that passions can wax and wane over time, and it’s okay to stop one activity and pick up another. Find other people who care deeply about your shared interest so you can build a sense of community. Only a privileged few are able to match their passion to their job, but leading a full life outside of work allows us to bring our best selves to the office — or anywhere we go.

This tip is adapted from “The Unexpected Benefits of Pursuing a Passion Outside of Work,” by Jon M. Jachimowicz, Joyce He, and Julián Arango

05/12/2019

Deflect Tricky Questions to Avoid a Response You Might Regret

Sometimes in a job interview, you might be asked questions you’d rather not answer. Responding honestly might compromise your privacy, but declining to answer might make you look bad. Instead, think about how you can deflect these tricky questions. First, anticipate the difficult things you might be asked, such as inquiries about your relationship/marital status, age, or political affiliation. Then, think of responses that focus on the other person. For example, if you’re asked, “When do you plan on having children?” the deflection could be: “Do you have any children?” Or a humorous response might be: “At least nine months apart. Is there a different norm at this company?” Inventing responses on the spot can be difficult, so practice ahead of time, or consider rehearsing your answers with a colleague or friend. Our natural instinct is to answer a direct question, so thinking in advance about deflection can help you guide the conversation and protect your interests.

This tip is adapted from “How to Deflect Difficult Questions in an Interview or Negotiation,” by Brad Bitterly and Maurice E. Schweitzer

04/12/2019

Help Your Remote Team Members Feel More Connected

If you manage a remote team, you know how isolating it can be — for you and your employees. Managers can help by setting the stage for everyone to get to know each other better. Start every call with something that helps team members learn about each other. For example, you might ask people to share a “song of the week” that they have enjoyed listening to. When hosting a team meeting via a conference line, open the line 10 minutes early and leave it open for 10 minutes after the call ends so that team members can chat. When remote workers travel to various sites, encourage them to hold “office hours” so teammates can stop in and say hello. It can be awkward to see people after a long break, so include a relationship-building opportunity in those early in-person meetings, and save the unstructured activities for later when people have gotten over their awkwardness. This may feel like a lot of work, but it will help your virtual workers feel more connected to their teammates and the organization.

This tip is adapted from “How Remote Workers Make Work Friends,” by Beth Schinoff, Blake E. Ashforth, and Kevin Corley

03/12/2019

Managing a Defiant Employee.

Some of the hardest employees to manage are people who are consistently oppositional. They might actively debate or ignore feedback, refuse to follow instructions, or create a constant stream of negative comments. There are three tactics you can try if you’re managing a defiant employee. First, consider adjusting their job responsibilities to make better use of their strengths. If they have deep technical expertise but lack management skills, for example, try putting them into a subject-matter-expert role. A second option is to temporarily overlook their negative style while they adjust to any new circumstances. Some employees become oppositional when they feel insecure in a new role or after a significant change in their responsibilities. Work on stylistic problems once they’ve settled in and feel more familiar with the new expectations. Lastly, consider whether their resistance is appropriate. Perhaps they are pointing out process changes that need to be made or alerting you to problems that no one else is willing to raise. Don’t outright dismiss their negative behavior, but also don’t let it go on too long. If none of these tactics work, it might be time for the person to move on.

This tip is adapted from “How to Manage a Stubborn, Defensive, or Defiant Employee,” by Liz Kislik

02/12/2019

Encourage Your Employees to Share What They Know

Many of us hide what we know at work because we don’t want to lose the power or status that we think the piece of knowledge gives us. But recent research shows that hoarding information often backfires and can negatively impact the withholder’s growth and development. As a manager, it’s your job to create a culture in which your employees feel comfortable sharing information and speaking openly about their concerns. One way to figure out why your staff is holding back information is to use third-party, anonymous surveys. Then act on this feedback to gain back their trust. And make sure the people you manage understand the consequences of knowledge-hiding. Those who are keeping information in order to protect themselves may not understand that they are actually doing the opposite. Use trainings, newsletters, bulletin boards, and other communication channels to help employees understand why sharing knowledge with your teammates is important.

This tip is adapted from “Why Withholding Information at Work Won’t Give You an Advantage,” by Zhou (Joe) Jiang

29/11/2019

Simple Ways to Show Appreciation for Your Colleagues

We often use the words “recognition” and “appreciation” interchangeably, but there’s a big difference between them. The former is about giving positive feedback based on results or performance. The latter is about acknowledging a person’s inherent value. If you focus solely on recognition, or praising positive outcomes, you miss out on opportunities to connect with and support your team members. Here are a few simple ways to show appreciation for those around you. First, listen. One of the best things you can do for the people you work with is to put down your phone, turn away from your computer, and genuinely listen to them. Also, tell people what you value about them. Doing this proactively — not because someone did something great or because you want something from them — is an incredibly powerful gift. It can positively affect how your colleagues feel about themselves, your relationship with them, and the culture of the team. Lastly, check in with people. Show them that you care by asking how they’re doing (and meaning it).

This tip is adapted from “Why Employees Need Both Recognition and Appreciation,” by Mike Robbins

28/11/2019

Weigh the Risks When Choosing Your First Job

Choosing your first job can be daunting, especially in an uncertain economy. Should you aim for a job that’s safe, say at a superstar firm, or one that’s a bit more risky with greater upside, say at a promising start-up? It’s important to weigh the risks. Working at a superstar firm may feel more stable, but you often have to navigate bureaucracy and politics. It can also be harder to gain recognition, be entrepreneurial, and move forward within the firm. Going to a start-up offers upsides if it’s the next Google, but most start-ups fail. Still, in a smaller firm you are likely to be less boxed into a certain role, have more responsibility, and learn new skills. Another option is a middle-of-the-pack company that is more likely to give opportunities to a young, ambitious person short on credentials. What’s right for you depends on your risk tolerance, your income needs, and what you can get. And remember, odds are this first job won’t be your last.

This tip is adapted from “How to Weigh the Risks When Choosing Your First Job,” by Allison Schrager

26/11/2019

Get Noticed by Upper Management

What do you do when you’re ready for a new challenge, but you’re not getting the opportunities you want — and you don’t want to go over your boss’s head? Your first move should be to demonstrate your commitment to the company. Tell your boss that you’re interested in taking on special projects, ones that will both help the company reach its goals and provide you with an opportunity to stretch yourself. Another option is to look for opportunities to collaborate across the organization. When you build connections, you expand your network of allies and increase your visibility and influence. And don’t be afraid to ask directly for opportunities. While you don’t want to push too hard, showing initiative is usually seen as a good thing. Explain why you believe you can make a valuable contribution, as well as what you will gain from the opportunity. Ultimately management will want to put you in a spot where you can do the most. Sometimes you’ve got to identify where that is and ask for it.

This tip is adapted from “How to Get Noticed by Your Boss’s Boss,” by Melissa Raffoni

20/11/2019

Sacrificing your health for success or wealth isn’t worth it.

Many driven people have a hard time creating work/life balance & can end up burning out or developing serious health problems from stress and overwork. It’s much easier to stay healthy than to heal from a problem.

No amount of success or money can replace your health. Don’t take your health for granted & take steps to mitigate stress that could cause problems later.

If anything goes wrong with you - work will continue. Take your annual leave, rest and take care of yourself.