Career Archives

Examples of Adding Value to a Company as an Employee

Looking for examples of adding value to a company? How and why should employees add value to a company? In Business Made Simple, author and business expert Donald Miller describes why adding value to a company (not just doing the bare minimum) is the best way to lead a successful career. In the book, Miller offers several actionable examples of adding value to a company. Read on for three examples of adding value to a company, according to Business Made Simple.

Job Role vs. Job Description: Which Is Better?

In the debate regarding job role vs. job description, where do the most visionary companies come down? What difference does it make to an organization’s flexibility and overall performance? In Reinventing Organizations, Frédéric Laloux identifies an emerging breed of company that operates from a new set of rules. One new rule they’ve adopted is exchanging job descriptions for job roles. This change serves both the employee and the organization. Continue reading to understand Laloux’s findings about job roles.

How Job Assistance Programs Help Solve Poverty

What is the key to alleviating poverty? How will job assistance programs help the poor? One solution that Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert, authors of When Helping Hurts, offer to reduce poverty is to set up job preparation programs in local communities. These programs can help improve skill sets and create job interview opportunities. Read below to learn how job assistance programs are the key to poverty alleviation.

Do Job Titles Help or Hurt a Company?

Are job titles still important in the workplace? Are job roles a preferred alternative? In the modern-day workplace, many people question whether job titles are still necessary. On one hand, they offer stability and structure. On the other hand, some people consider them old-fashioned and too reliant on a hierarchical system. To determine if you should consider keeping or eliminating job titles in your company, keep reading.

The 3 Future Work Skills You Need to Thrive in the 21st Century

What skills do you bring to the table? How can you compete in this economy—and in the economy of the future? The world is changing fast. Thomas L. Friedman, in his book The World Is Flat, explains that the increasingly globalized nature of the world requires workers to have three skills to keep up: cooperation, integration, and versatility. Continue reading for a discussion of these future work skills and an exercise that will help you consider your career in the globalized world.

Confidence in Public Speaking: Beat Anxiety & Speak Boldly

Why is public speaking so scary? What could you accomplish if you overcame that fear? Public speaking anxiety is legendary. But, public speaking is extraordinarily powerful—both for the audience and the speaker. The audience gains knowledge and gets inspired. The speaker gets their message across, spreads their influence, and develops skills for success. Keep reading to learn about the power of public speaking and several misconceptions and truths that surround it. We’ll also share practical tips on how to gain confidence in public speaking by attacking the speech and attacking your fear.

What Is the Hyperactive Hive Mind & What Feeds It?

What is the hyperactive hive mind? What causes this mindset? Cal Newport’s book A World Without Email describes the term “hyperactive hive mind workflow” (HHMW). This is where all members of an organization are in constant, frantic, and often unnecessary communication. Let’s look at the four factors that create and drive the hyperactive hive mind workflow.

Shorter Workweek Benefits and Drawbacks

What are the benefits of a shorter workweek? Why are there also drawbacks? The push to reduce work schedules gathered momentum during the pandemic, which forced employers to become more flexible about working arrangements and led many workers to reflect on unhealthy work cultures. However, workers and businesses are still trying to evaluate the viability of a shorter workweek. Read on for an overview of shorter workweek benefits as well as the drawbacks to reducing working hours.

Find Your Place in the World—With Help From Biology & Physics

Where are you headed in life, and how fast are you going? What’s your niche? Should you be a generalist or a specialist? If these questions resonate with you, you’re probably figuring out how you fit in the larger scheme of things. You have a unique combination of personality, strengths, and interests, which means that you have a unique place to thrive. Now you just need to get there. Continue reading for tips on how to find your place in the world.

The Red Queen Effect & Other Ways to Beat the Competition

What’s the Red Queen effect? What are some ways to thrive in the midst of competitors? In The Great Mental Models Volume 2, authors Rhiannon Beaubien and Shane Parrish introduce two evolutionary models—the Red Queen effect and adaptation. They use them to explain the importance of keeping up with our competition and the mechanisms by which we can do so. Continue reading to learn how to apply these models to your life and work.