There have been a few different articles on WorkAwesome about how to stay motivated, from musical motivation to motivational quotes, but according to this report from the Harvard Business Review’s Breakthrough Ideas of 2010, the number one way to stay motivated is to have a clear sense that progress is being made.
Sense of Progress = Feeling of Motivation
The findings were based on information received from 12,000 end-of-day diaries, and after reviewing the content, the researchers were able to measure the relative motivation of the workers.
When the workers said they were having their very best days, these were the 5 factors that influenced their level of motivation the most.
- Making progress = 76%
- Collaboration = 53%
- Organizational Support = 43%
- Interpersonal support = 25%
- Doing important work = 19%
The funny part about this report is the management was asked to rate what they felt the most important factor for motivation was, and they determined it was recognition for good work. A sense of progress came in as the least important factor, in their opinion.
So if you are a manager, talk to your team and find ways to remove the barriers preventing them from moving the project forward. If you’re a worker, share this report with your manager, so they can see that what they may think is motivational is not quite as important as getting the job done. Keep Reading…
If you’ve ever had to train people at work you will certainly learn, over time, the right way to do so. Winging it is not part of my vernacular when it comes to training others. Here are some tips that I have picked up during my career that have helped me immensely when training people at work. Keep Reading…
Yesterday we gave Baydin’s Boomerang for Gmail a pretty decent once over. I have been using the service for the past week or so and I’m happy with the results I’m getting. As editor of this site – and living in North America as opposed to where Envato HQ is based – it’s handy to schedule emails and move on to other things that aren’t, well, email. Alas, the service is still in beta, so you’ll need an invite to use it.
Luckily, WorkAwesome has just been given 1000 invites to give away (thank you, Baydin)! Use the promo code b4gbeta on the link below and you’re good to go…
Boomerang for Gmail: Get Started Today! Keep Reading…
Saying “no” at work is a surprisingly difficult thing to do. In the minds of your coworkers, the word can land you with the stigma of negativity. Similarly, turning down a client’s request with a blunt “no” can cause you to lose their favor.
Still, sometimes it has to be done. “No” is sometimes necessary, and if it’s used carefully, it can save both sides of the dialogue from unneeded stress and wasted time.
A List Apart has an excellent guide on how to say no properly, supporting it with valid reasons – yet remaining positive to your coworkers and favorable to your clients.
In the long term, a thoughtful, carefully-delivered “no” can be much more positive than saying “yes” as a thoughtless, knee-jerk reaction.
A List Apart - No One Nos: Learning to Say No to Bad Ideas Keep Reading…
I recently wrote a post about how to hire an intern. Now that you’ve got a willing, able and capable intern, what do you do with them? As their manager you need to provide them with stuff to do, especially at first when they’re still figuring out what their routine will be.
Remember, an intern isn’t just someone you can use to fetch your coffee or pick up your dry cleaning. They’re working for you (probably for free) in order to learn something valuable. It’s up to you as their manager to help them get the most out of their time at your company.
Here are some important questions to ask yourself before your interns first day on the job: Keep Reading…
If you’re anything like I am, then you often find yourself checking email late at night, but you’re hesitant to actually send emails at that hour lest you give clients the impression that you have no life and they can always expect an immediate response from you. Or maybe you have a set of recurring emails that you’re often forgetting to send.
Enter Baydin’s Boomergang for Gmail (it’s also available for Outlook). Keep Reading…
Dropbox isn’t a new entrant to the backup and sync scene. It’s been sometime since it was introduced, and has already received rave reviews and accolades from various technology sites and journals.
I knew about the tool since the day it came into existence. But I didn’t jump on the opportunity to try it out. That was probably because I had my own backup and sync system which included various tools, and I was quite satisfied with that. Hence I didn’t feel the need to try a new data backup solution. Keep Reading…
I’ve recently started using mind mapping software for managing ideas.
Mind maps are graphical representations of outlines. The advantage over a traditional outline is that you can connect related topics. It’s also easier for some visually oriented people to review.
Like I said, I use it plan ideas. I start with the idea name as the center node (topics are called nodes) and create nodes for tasks and concepts that will guide the project. The resulting mind map helps me figure out where to start work.
It’s also handy for brainstorming. The mind map becomes a record of ideas and questions. Later when I’m ready to develop the idea, it’s a clear representation of what I was thinking. To me, it’s clearer than traditional notes. Keep Reading…
Hiring an intern for your business should not be a task that is taken lightly—as anyone who has had the intern from hell will tell you. The reason small businesses, like the one I work for, hires interns is to improve our profitability. Interns are free labor.
Besides being cheap, interns are also eager to work and learn and bring a young, vibrant vibe into your office. That is, if you know how to hire an intern correctly. The effort you put in to hiring an intern directly corresponds to your return on investment. Who knows? Perhaps your new intern will end up becoming your next full-time hire.
If you are lucky enough to have interns banging down your door, then your job is easy. If you have to reach out to the local community to find interns, here are some ideas on where to start: Keep Reading…
