What qualities are most important for a project leader to be effective? Over the past few years, the people at ESI International, world leaders in Project Management Training, have looked in to what makes an effective project leader. With the unique opportunity to ask some of the most talented project leaders in the world on their Project Leadership courses ESI have managed to collect a running tally on their responses. Below are the top 10 in rank order according to frequency listed.
Inspires a Shared Vision
An effective project leader is often described as having a vision of where to go and the ability to articulate it. Visionaries thrive on change and being able to draw new boundaries. It was once said that a leader is someone who "lifts us up, gives us a reason for being and gives the vision and spirit to change." Visionary leaders enable people to feel they have a real stake in the project. They empower people to experience the vision on their own. According to Bennis "They offer people opportunities to create their own vision, to explore what the vision will mean to their jobs and lives, and to envision their future as part of the vision for the organisation." (Bennis, 1997)
Good Communicator
The ability to communicate with people at all levels is almost always named as the second most important skill by project managers and team members. Project leadership calls for clear communication about goals, responsibility, performance, expectations and feedback.
There is a great deal of value placed on openness and directness. The project leader is also the team's link to the larger organisation. The leader must have the ability to effectively negotiate and use persuasion when necessary to ensure the success of the team and project. Through effective communication, project leaders support individual and team achievements by creating explicit guidelines for accomplishing results and for the career advancement of team members.
Integrity
One of the most important things a project leader must remember is that his or her actions, and not words, set the modus operandi for the team. Good leadership demands commitment to, and demonstration of, ethical practices. Creating standards for ethical behaviour for oneself and living by these standards, as well as rewarding those who exemplify these practices, are responsibilities of project leaders. Leadership motivated by self-interest does not serve the well being of the team. Leadership based on integrity represents nothing less than a set of values others share, behaviour consistent with values and dedication to honesty with self and team members. In other words the leader "walks the talk" and in the process earns trust.
Enthusiasm
Plain and simple, we don't like leaders who are negative - they bring us down. We want leaders with enthusiasm, with a bounce in their step, with a can-do attitude. We want to believe that we are part of an invigorating journey - we want to feel alive. We tend to follow people with a can-do attitude, not those who give us 200 reasons why something can't be done. Enthusiastic leaders are committed to their goals and express this commitment through optimism. Leadership emerges as someone expresses such confident commitment to a project that others want to share his or her optimistic expectations. Enthusiasm is contagious and effective leaders know it.
Empathy
What is the difference between empathy and sympathy? Although the words are similar, they are, in fact, mutually exclusive. According to Norman Paul, in sympathy the subject is principally absorbed in his or her own feelings as they are projected into the object and has little concern for the reality and validity of the object's special experience. Empathy, on the other hand, presupposes the existence of the object as a separate individual, entitled to his or her own feelings, ideas and emotional history (Paul, 1970). As one student so eloquently put it, "It's nice when a project leader acknowledges that we all have a life outside of work."
Competence
Simply put, to enlist in another's cause, we must believe that that person knows what he or she is doing. Leadership competence does not however necessarily refer to the project leader's technical abilities in the core technology of the business. As project management continues to be recognised as a field in and of itself, project leaders will be chosen based on their ability to successfully lead others rather than on technical expertise, as in the past. Having a winning track record is the surest way to be considered competent. Expertise in leadership skills is another dimension in competence. The ability to challenge, inspire, enable, model and encourage must be demonstrated if leaders are to be seen as capable and competent.
Ability to Delegate Tasks
Trust is an essential element in the relationship of a project leader and his or her team. You demonstrate your trust in others through your actions - how much you check and control their work, how much you delegate and how much you allow people to participate. Individuals who are unable to trust other people often fail as leaders and forever remain little more that micro-managers, or end up doing all of the work themselves. As one project management student put it, "A good leader is a little lazy." An interesting perspective!
Cool Under Pressure
In a perfect world, projects would be delivered on time, under budget and with no major problems or obstacles to overcome. But we don't live in a perfect world - projects have problems. A leader with a hardy attitude will take these problems in stride. When leaders encounter a stressful event, they consider it interesting, they feel they can influence the outcome and they see it as an opportunity. "Out of the uncertainty and chaos of change, leaders rise up and articulate a new image of the future that pulls the project together." (Bennis 1997) And remember - never let them see you sweat.
Team-Building Skills
A team builder can best be defined as a strong person who provides the substance that holds the team together in common purpose toward the right objective. In order for a team to progress from a group of strangers to a single cohesive unit, the leader must understand the process and dynamics required for this transformation. He or she must also know the appropriate leadership style to use during each stage of team development. The leader must also have an understanding of the different team players styles and how to capitalise on each at the proper time, for the problem at hand.
Problem Solving Skills
Although an effective leader is said to share problem-solving responsibilities with the team, we expect our project leaders to have excellent problem-solving skills themselves. They have a "fresh, creative response to here-and-now opportunities," and not much concern with how others have performed them. (Kouzes 1987)
References
Bennis, W., 1997. "Learning to Lead," Addison-Wesley, MA.
Kouzes, J. M: "The Leadership Challenge," Jossey-Bass Publishers, CA.
Norman: Parental Empathy. Parenthood, Little, Brown, NY.
Taken from: projectsmart.co.uk
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Peachtree Accounting software
Its History
Business Analytics
Multiple Accounts
Automatic Backups
Ever-improving technology
Taken from: www.ehow.com
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Getting the Promotion you deserve
Tired of being stuck at the same post? Didn’t get the promotion you deserved? You are not alone. A lot of people have faced the situation once or twice, down the road. There is no doubt that getting rewarded is the biggest motivation for a person to excel at his job, but not everyone can get the promotions they hope for. No one can determine for sure whether or not an employee will get promoted or not, regardless of his performance at work. There are often situations when a less deserving or hardworking employee gets promoted over a better colleague, with no obvious explanation or rationale behind the action. What you must keep in mind is that sometimes just getting the job done right is not enough to bag a promotion and you have to go the extra mile to show your potential. Before you start aiming for a promotion, you have to make sure that you are eligible for the job you are aiming for and have the capabilities to handle the job. This can be one of the prime reasons why you have been overlooked for a promotion in the past. However, if you feel like you are both qualified and capable of doing your job properly, and can handle more responsibility, there are quite a few things you can do to get the much desired promotion.
Useful Tips For Getting Promoted
The following are tested and tried methods that work wonders when you are gearing towards a promotion. However, the trick is to not push too hard or test your luck too far.
Do Your Homework
Keep in mind that when you go ask your boss for the promotion, you need to know what to say. Make a note of your skills, the effort you have put into the company over the given time period and your significant achievements. Moreover, do a little research on what the next level of job holds for you. Be prepared to explain to your superior how your experience and knowledge base will be beneficial for that specific position.
Ask For Promotion
The first and most important thing that you need to realize is that you cannot sit and wait for the superiors to automatically promote you to the higher level, because that will probably never happen. In order to get a promotion, you have to make yourself visible and ask for the promotion. Make sure that you interact with the superiors from time to time.
Time It Perfectly
Find out if there is a position open because it can drastically increase the chances of your getting the promotion, if there is an opening within the organization. Timing can be of essence in securing the promotion that you always wanted. If there are no openings in the organization, then the best time to ask for a promotion would be right after you have accomplished a significant task assigned to you that benefitted the company.
Keep Learning
Constantly learning new skills and polishing your old ones is a key factor in getting promoted. If you just keep on repeating your everyday duties without aiming for improvement, there is a very good chance that you will be ignored or bypassed when the time for promotions comes near.
Send The Message
The most important thing is to let your superior know that you are ready to move up the ladder and are willing to undergo further training for the post, if required. Moreover, show the superiors that you are more than capable of effectively handling the responsibilities that come with the next level.
Show Initiative
In order to get promoted, you must be proactive at your job by taking initiatives and recommending new projects and coming up with innovative ideas. This will send a clear message to your manager that you can be even more valuable to the company in the long run.
Get Involved
The biggest mistake you can do is to become too focused on your work, so much so that you fail to grasp the working of your company in a broader perspective. While performing your daily tasks, you should put in the extra time in observing how various departments function. This can prove to be of immense help when you ask for a promotion as not many employees go beyond what’s happening in their own department.
Work Hard
While all the other factors play a very vital role in securing your promotion, you have to keep in mind that the one thing that you cannot be successful without is ‘hard work.’ At no point should you forget that when an employer considers an employee for a promotion, the first thing he will evaluate is the quality and quantity of work. You have to take your work seriously and put in your best effort while working on assignments. Your employer should be aware that you are more than capable of performing your duties and need not to be supervised.
Quantify Your Success
Almost as important as working hard is letting the superiors know about your hard work. Make sure that you tactfully appraise the manager of your efforts and achievements, from time to time.
Show Professional Etiquettes
Developing a good relationship with your boss and colleagues is the key to success in a work place. An employee who is disruptive and shows now regard for his co-worker can hardly expect a promotion. Work place ethics go a long way, not only with the managers but also with the colleagues who might put in a good word for you, even if unknowingly.
Bottom Line
Promotions and appraisals are a tricky business and the managers or supervisors might not always be fair in the process. However, you have to be sure that the problem does not lie at your end, if you are being constantly overlooked for promotion by your superiors. Try to give your maximum output and follow all the tips provided above. If you are still not promoted, then you should look into the structure of the company you are working at. There are some organizations where there are limited or no growth opportunities. In such a scenario, the best option would be to find another company and a job where there is room for growth. Keep in mind; you should apply for a job that is in accordance with your work experience and expertise.
Refererence: www.blog.rozee.pk
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Digital Social Networking
DIGITAL SOCIAL NETWORKING
What are social networking sites?
Social networking sites (SNSs) like facebook, twitter, orkut, bebo are built upon the concept of customary
social networks where one connects to new people through people you already know. The purpose of
networking sites was purely social initially which was focused on making new friendships with no border
limitations. However, later, these sites became a useful medium for advertisements of businesses and the
work of celebrities.
Although the graphical layout of social networking sites differ, they all allow to provide information about the
person using it and offer some type of communication mechanism (forums, chat rooms, email, instant
messenger) that enables one to connect with other users. On some sites, people having certain criteria like
education, work, location etc. can be found and sent an invitation to become friend.
Uses of social networking websites
New uses are now being seen as the popularity of internet and SNSs are on rise.
The main reason of emerging trends in social networking sites is the concept of "real time communication."
Real time communication let users to contribute content, which is then broadcasted as soon as it is uploaded.
Facebook, Orkut and Twitter work on this principle which are the most used networking sites in Pakistan.
One popular use for this new technology is social networking between businesses. Companies have found that
social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter are great ways to build their brand image. These
companies become able to attract online users’ traffic to their own online sites while encouraging their
consumers and clients to have discussions on how to improve or change products or services. For this service
they have to pay to the sites mostly on per-click basis.
One other use that is being in fashion is the sharing of knowledge by professionals. Finance, marketing,
medical and engineering professionals are leading this competition. They share their views and get feedback
from their colleagues, students, teachers and net-friends. They think it to be necessary for their professional
development as well as their market reputation and goodwill.
Social networks are also being used by teachers and students as a communication tool. Teachers and
professors are doing everything from creating chat-room forums and groups to extend classroom discussion to
posting assignments, tests and quizzes, to assisting with homework outside of the classroom setting.
Teachers
are also using these sites to offer their services to students who are already on these sites in large numbers.
Moreover, students are using these sites for creating job and internship opportunities for them. For this
purpose LinkedIn is the best social networking site. This site has gained so much acceptability that it is now
considered an additional plus point to include the profile address to one’s own resume.
Security issues of social sites
Social networking sites rely mostly on anonymous connections and communication, so they encourage
providing a certain amount of personal information. When deciding how much information to reveal, people
may not exercise the same amount of caution as they would when meeting someone in person because the
internet provides a sense of anonymity and hence a feeling of security and people want to offer insights to
impress potential friends or associates.
While the majority of people using these sites do not pose a threat, malicious people may be drawn to them
because of the accessibility and amount of personal information that's available. The more information
malicious and fraudulent people have about the person, the easier it is for them to take advantage of him. In a
poll by internet security firm Sophos, it was found that more than 60 per cent of people viewed Facebook to
pose the biggest threat of spam and viruses.
Moreover, profiles on online SNSs can be downloaded and stored by third parties, creating a digital database
of personal data.
SN members disclose personal information using the network itself e.g. length of connections, other users’
profiles visited and messages sent. SNSs provide a central repository accessible to a single provider. The high
value of SNSs suggests that such data is being used to considerable financial gain.
Additionally, because of the popularity of these sites, attackers may use them to distribute malicious code.
Sites that offer applications developed by third parties are particularly susceptible. Attackers may be able to
create customized applications that appear to be innocent while infecting your computer without your
knowledge.
Nowadays, a big issue of fake profiles has risen here in Pakistan. Fake people are pretending to be celebrities,
players and political personalities to develop their network just for their own satisfaction or there may be
some criminal minds working behind this activity.
Employee misdeeds have increased and are a constant threat to the companies. Disclosure of company’s
confidential information is of great market and strategy loss to the company. Of course you know that your
employees know that too. However, while their prowl on these social networking sites and give away their
personal information, they also mention where they work. Now identity thieves can reconstruct all sorts of
information from similar profiles and misuse it.
Protecting yourself
Although always on the danger end, one can save oneself by adhering to the following safety measures at the
minimum:
Do not accept pop-ups or prompts for software, unless you are armed with web scanner software
which checks each site for infections prior to access.
Do not ever provide, post, or submit any confidential personal data (e.g. banking details).
Do not accept friend requests or request friends that you personally do not know.
Protect your account with strong passwords that cannot easily be guessed. Never auto save your
password information, and clear your history at regular intervals. Also keep changing your
password. The online survey conducted by AVG and the CMO Council has shown that 64 percent of
users never change their password.
Do not use SNSs on public computers.
Never post your personal information that you would not like strangers (internet friends) to know. Do
not post your schedules as well.
Installing Anti-virus software protects you from most known viruses and shields your computer
against them, so you may be able to detect and remove the virus before damage done. Keep it update
as well. Anti hacking software may also help.
Profile privacy should be set to maximum so that the unknown people can see the minimum
information on your profile unless you add them as your friend.
Click the links with care.
Save your children
You take every decision about your children about everything. Why allow them to be on their own while on
internet where they are exposed to every danger.
1. It is rightly said keeping an eye on the friends of the children is more important than keeping an eye
on your own children. Always check who the friends of your children are.
2. Check regularly what sites your children visit.
3. Talk to them to avoid sex talk. I agree it would be difficult in our society. However, at the minimum
keep the PC at an open place in the house where everyone can see what is being done on internet.
4. Limit the time which your kids spend on internet.
5. Ensure the proper maintaining of logs of what is being done by children in your absence.
6. Make your children aware of the misinformation and hate spread on internet.
7. Enlighten them about what to post on internet. Tell them that any information posted cannot be
taken back even if deleted.
8. Ensure your kids do not use full names or post very personal photographs.
9. Ensure that your children never meet any person with whom they were connected on internet
without any previous relation.
What to expect in 2010?
Not only has the volume of threats escalated dramatically, but the delivery methods have become more
sophisticated. Cyber criminals increasingly leverage the headlines or news of the day to attack unsuspecting
consumers. Celebrity death or scandals, natural disasters will be used by criminals to find a way to conceal
their malware in the headlines you want to read and the bits of conversation you're already having.
The hubs of communication, Facebook, Orkut, Twitter, MySpace, will become major targets for cyber
criminals, McAfee predicts.
Although consumers know to be wary of Web links sent by strangers, they tend to trust Web links and e-mail
messages sent by friends and family. But online attackers are learning how to exploit that trust, by delivering
malware that appears to come from Facebook friends, Twitter followers and friends' e-mail accounts.
Are you addicted to social networking?
You are a social networking addict when:
1. You lose sleep over SNSs.
2. Your mind is thinking about getting onto internet even when at other work.
3. The thought of getting offline pinches you.
SNSs... The unleashed evils?
Is it really true? Can we do better and live peacefully by leaving social networking and step back again into
non-digital mediums for social interaction and that also to a limited boundary? No, this won’t work, as social
networking has established foothold in the everyday lives of millions and according to Globe Scan Poll, 75
percent of the people of the world consider internet as basic necessity of life.
The perceived value of SNSs far surpasses the potential threats. Now, the question of security becomes of
utmost importance for which the people need to be educated at the Government level just for a short time.
What are social networking sites?
Social networking sites (SNSs) like facebook, twitter, orkut, bebo are built upon the concept of customary
social networks where one connects to new people through people you already know. The purpose of
networking sites was purely social initially which was focused on making new friendships with no border
limitations. However, later, these sites became a useful medium for advertisements of businesses and the
work of celebrities.
Although the graphical layout of social networking sites differ, they all allow to provide information about the
person using it and offer some type of communication mechanism (forums, chat rooms, email, instant
messenger) that enables one to connect with other users. On some sites, people having certain criteria like
education, work, location etc. can be found and sent an invitation to become friend.
Uses of social networking websites
New uses are now being seen as the popularity of internet and SNSs are on rise.
The main reason of emerging trends in social networking sites is the concept of "real time communication."
Real time communication let users to contribute content, which is then broadcasted as soon as it is uploaded.
Facebook, Orkut and Twitter work on this principle which are the most used networking sites in Pakistan.
One popular use for this new technology is social networking between businesses. Companies have found that
social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter are great ways to build their brand image. These
companies become able to attract online users’ traffic to their own online sites while encouraging their
consumers and clients to have discussions on how to improve or change products or services. For this service
they have to pay to the sites mostly on per-click basis.
One other use that is being in fashion is the sharing of knowledge by professionals. Finance, marketing,
medical and engineering professionals are leading this competition. They share their views and get feedback
from their colleagues, students, teachers and net-friends. They think it to be necessary for their professional
development as well as their market reputation and goodwill.
Social networks are also being used by teachers and students as a communication tool. Teachers and
professors are doing everything from creating chat-room forums and groups to extend classroom discussion to
posting assignments, tests and quizzes, to assisting with homework outside of the classroom setting.
Teachers
are also using these sites to offer their services to students who are already on these sites in large numbers.
Moreover, students are using these sites for creating job and internship opportunities for them. For this
purpose LinkedIn is the best social networking site. This site has gained so much acceptability that it is now
considered an additional plus point to include the profile address to one’s own resume.
Security issues of social sites
Social networking sites rely mostly on anonymous connections and communication, so they encourage
providing a certain amount of personal information. When deciding how much information to reveal, people
may not exercise the same amount of caution as they would when meeting someone in person because the
internet provides a sense of anonymity and hence a feeling of security and people want to offer insights to
impress potential friends or associates.
While the majority of people using these sites do not pose a threat, malicious people may be drawn to them
because of the accessibility and amount of personal information that's available. The more information
malicious and fraudulent people have about the person, the easier it is for them to take advantage of him. In a
poll by internet security firm Sophos, it was found that more than 60 per cent of people viewed Facebook to
pose the biggest threat of spam and viruses.
Moreover, profiles on online SNSs can be downloaded and stored by third parties, creating a digital database
of personal data.
SN members disclose personal information using the network itself e.g. length of connections, other users’
profiles visited and messages sent. SNSs provide a central repository accessible to a single provider. The high
value of SNSs suggests that such data is being used to considerable financial gain.
Additionally, because of the popularity of these sites, attackers may use them to distribute malicious code.
Sites that offer applications developed by third parties are particularly susceptible. Attackers may be able to
create customized applications that appear to be innocent while infecting your computer without your
knowledge.
Nowadays, a big issue of fake profiles has risen here in Pakistan. Fake people are pretending to be celebrities,
players and political personalities to develop their network just for their own satisfaction or there may be
some criminal minds working behind this activity.
Employee misdeeds have increased and are a constant threat to the companies. Disclosure of company’s
confidential information is of great market and strategy loss to the company. Of course you know that your
employees know that too. However, while their prowl on these social networking sites and give away their
personal information, they also mention where they work. Now identity thieves can reconstruct all sorts of
information from similar profiles and misuse it.
Protecting yourself
Although always on the danger end, one can save oneself by adhering to the following safety measures at the
minimum:
Do not accept pop-ups or prompts for software, unless you are armed with web scanner software
which checks each site for infections prior to access.
Do not ever provide, post, or submit any confidential personal data (e.g. banking details).
Do not accept friend requests or request friends that you personally do not know.
Protect your account with strong passwords that cannot easily be guessed. Never auto save your
password information, and clear your history at regular intervals. Also keep changing your
password. The online survey conducted by AVG and the CMO Council has shown that 64 percent of
users never change their password.
Do not use SNSs on public computers.
Never post your personal information that you would not like strangers (internet friends) to know. Do
not post your schedules as well.
Installing Anti-virus software protects you from most known viruses and shields your computer
against them, so you may be able to detect and remove the virus before damage done. Keep it update
as well. Anti hacking software may also help.
Profile privacy should be set to maximum so that the unknown people can see the minimum
information on your profile unless you add them as your friend.
Click the links with care.
Save your children
You take every decision about your children about everything. Why allow them to be on their own while on
internet where they are exposed to every danger.
1. It is rightly said keeping an eye on the friends of the children is more important than keeping an eye
on your own children. Always check who the friends of your children are.
2. Check regularly what sites your children visit.
3. Talk to them to avoid sex talk. I agree it would be difficult in our society. However, at the minimum
keep the PC at an open place in the house where everyone can see what is being done on internet.
4. Limit the time which your kids spend on internet.
5. Ensure the proper maintaining of logs of what is being done by children in your absence.
6. Make your children aware of the misinformation and hate spread on internet.
7. Enlighten them about what to post on internet. Tell them that any information posted cannot be
taken back even if deleted.
8. Ensure your kids do not use full names or post very personal photographs.
9. Ensure that your children never meet any person with whom they were connected on internet
without any previous relation.
What to expect in 2010?
Not only has the volume of threats escalated dramatically, but the delivery methods have become more
sophisticated. Cyber criminals increasingly leverage the headlines or news of the day to attack unsuspecting
consumers. Celebrity death or scandals, natural disasters will be used by criminals to find a way to conceal
their malware in the headlines you want to read and the bits of conversation you're already having.
The hubs of communication, Facebook, Orkut, Twitter, MySpace, will become major targets for cyber
criminals, McAfee predicts.
Although consumers know to be wary of Web links sent by strangers, they tend to trust Web links and e-mail
messages sent by friends and family. But online attackers are learning how to exploit that trust, by delivering
malware that appears to come from Facebook friends, Twitter followers and friends' e-mail accounts.
Are you addicted to social networking?
You are a social networking addict when:
1. You lose sleep over SNSs.
2. Your mind is thinking about getting onto internet even when at other work.
3. The thought of getting offline pinches you.
SNSs... The unleashed evils?
Is it really true? Can we do better and live peacefully by leaving social networking and step back again into
non-digital mediums for social interaction and that also to a limited boundary? No, this won’t work, as social
networking has established foothold in the everyday lives of millions and according to Globe Scan Poll, 75
percent of the people of the world consider internet as basic necessity of life.
The perceived value of SNSs far surpasses the potential threats. Now, the question of security becomes of
utmost importance for which the people need to be educated at the Government level just for a short time.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Office Etiquettes
Politeness and proper decorum are not outdated issues in the workplace of the '90s---according to Paula K. Morning, an independent business consultant and director of development for the SOS Community Crisis Centre in Ypsilanti. Take charge of what is yours, maintain proper decorum at all times and always treat others the way you want to be treated. Here are some office etiquettes that one can follow.
Punctuality
To be on time is very important especially if you have an appointment. It shows that you respect the time of your colleagues and in turn it will compel them to respect your time too. Always keep in mind that ‘Time and tide wait for no one’.
Stay Away From Gossip
It can cause a lot of unnecessary stress which should be avoided at all costs. You would not want someone to gossip about you and neither will the next person. In some cases, if the source of some malicious gossip can be traced back to you, then your job can be in jeopardy or at least your reputation and respect.
Be Polite
You must not be loud in the professional work environment, be soft while you are on the phone or while talking to a colleague. If you have received a personal call on your mobile phone then walk down to the corridor to take the call. Taking care of this will show that you respect the work that your colleagues are doing by not disturbing them with your loudness.
Avoid Strong Perfumes
If you use strong perfumes, you can end up suffocating the entire place with your perfume which is closed and the air conditioners do not provide solutions to this. Moreover, I would also advice you to avoid bring strong smelling lunch like fish to office especially if you are planning to have it at your desk.
Say Sorry
Accept your mistake if you are wrong. Accepting your mistake will not make you vulnerable to any danger rather it will make you respectable in others’ eyes. Your work will also become unstained with the passage of time.
Dress Properly
Many offices have a predefined dress code that has to be followed very strictly. However, if you do have the privilege of working at a place which does not define a dress code, then it is up to you to dress appropriately. Office is not a party place and you will have to dress in a way that commands respect both from your colleagues and clients.
Be Regular
People should see you in office. Too many offs would show your unimportance at office. The work may also suffer on the other hand. This habit is a real threat to your job as well.
Always Remain Fresh
Do not show your feelings and expressions of what is happening outside the office. Office is not the place where you should want others to sympathize with you. What has happened in your house or with your friends or in university has nothing to do with the office.
Ask Before Borrowing
If you are at good terms with your colleague then it may appear alright if you borrowed a stapler or a marker from their desk without asking. Well, the fact of the matter is that it is not alright. It is imperative that you ask and then borrow. This attitude of yours will ensure that people also treat your things with the same respect and your things are not missing (read borrowed) when you get back to your seat after a meeting.
These are just some basic etiquette that you can follow in a professional work environment. However, it is more important to ensure that to behave decently and courteously. I truly believe that if you treat people in the way that you would like them to treat you, then it is more than half the battle won and people usually end up respecting to equally.
Email at : adeeb.hassan@hotmail.com
Why and how friendships are broken?
I have been seeing people for times becoming worst enemies from good friends but never got enough feelings to feel the pain of that broken relationship. This may be because of my nature about which some of my friends say that I am an emotionless person almost. But now I have pondered over the reasons of broken friendships and I have experienced some of them too.
But as we proceed, we have to categorize the classes in which friendships can fall. These may be,
· Emotional friends
· Professional friends
· Social friends and
· Just friends
The most which I like are the emotional friends. These are the real friends which one can have. These friends have a perfect mindset and understanding with you, the thoughts are compatible and the issues are the same and sharing of problems is on the higher end. Always seen as one and always treated as the same by others.
Professional friends are the people you know in good terms due to the same field. Accountants know many accountants; doctors are buddies with doctors and businessmen are friends with businessmen etc. Social friends are friends of the internet, entertainment clubs etc. The remaining are ‘just friends’ and include people whom you meet after a long time and remember them, your old school or college fellows to whom you never spoke at that time.
All these relations can be broken but the pain lies under the breaking of the emotional friendship. I, some days back, received a mobile message which goes like ‘Always take care of your friends because when friendship is broken, it doesn’t make noise.’ And this is true; we only can feel the broken relationships.
Reasons of friendship ending may be finding of some new friends and forming a new group and trying to depart the old group.
Change in financial position may be another reason. Not an important one, but still very applicable and this supports the saying of Hazrat Ali (R.A.) that (meaning not exact words) on getting wealthy, people are not changed but exposed.
Sense of deprivation is the most heinous and devastating reason which a friend may find to cut himself off from others. A person might think that is inferior to other friends in the group and may want to leave them.
Ignoring others may be a factor which initiates the feeling of being ignored and that may become a point of separation of friends. Respect can be earned when we give proper respect to others.
Harsh and violent joking may provoke some other person which may lead to the conclusion of the friendship in a negative manner. This should not be the case as we have to respect the feelings of the other. Moreover, we should see where the other person is feeling annoyed and should stop ourselves at the same point. This is the problem which most close friends always face. I am also much frightened by this as I still have not found any solution to this as if I say anyone to stop, they would say that we are joking and when some bad event occurs, we cannot reverse ourselves to the earlier positions. We should make in mind that friendship is diamond and brother-relation is gold. When there is extra heating on diamond or a crack in diamond, it is reduced to nothing. But gold becomes purer if the same thing happens to it. A point of disrespect when comes to heart cannot be forgotten, a thread when broken can be joined but with a knot only and same is true in case of friendship.
Friends should have respect among one another and this is the only reason to be friends for life. Remember that you do not have to retain emotional friends as you may want to retain professional friends. Retaining a friendship means that your hearts or minds are not compatible with each other but you have to keep up with the other person due to some reasons which are mostly personal gains. The professional friendship is mostly based on mutual benefits and interests, whereas the emotional friendship is based purely on the acceptability of each other by heart.
adeeb.hassan@hotmail.com
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