# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are | Amy Cuddy | TED

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Team work pays off - cool examples - VERY FUNNY

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
PLEASE CLICK ON THE ADS FOR ME. YOU CAN CLOSE IT RIGHT AWAY. THANK YOU. ALSO PLEASE LIKE IT AND SUBSCRIBE. ** Watch this great 3 examples that we you work together, it really pays off.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Every organization relies on good teams. Effective teamwork in the workplace helps drive the organization toward success. Here are a ten qualities that can make a team player outstanding in the workplace:

1. Show Genuine Commitment

Team players are genuinely committed to their cause. Good team players might make sure they are in the office when needed, but great team players will make "seat" time worth it and contribute as much as possible. They strive for excellence.

2. Be flexible

Instead of sitting on the bench watching the rest of the crew perform, an outstanding team player wants to see the magic happen through his or her efforts as well. They are flexible to the situations thrown their way, and they participate and tackle challenges without showing too many signs of stress or pressure.

3. Don't stay in the shadows

It is not in your interest to just sit quietly and get your work done. It's a good thing to involved others, as long as you aren't bothering people with questions you should know the answer to. Great team players come to their teammates having prepared their ideas clearly.

4. Be reliable and responsible

An excellent team player will be reliable and responsible. They complete the tasks in order of priority, not necessarily in order that they're given. When you're not sure of what should take priority, ask your manager.
TIP: Make sure to supplement your online job search with networking. Once you get guidance from your network, target your online search to the right job titles and companies. After you apply, follow up with someone who works there. College Recruiter lists thousands of entry-level job opportunities. Would it make sense to start searching?
5. Actively listen

You are only a team player if you respectfully consider the viewpoints and ideas of other people as well. This is why diverse teams have the potential to so effective, and it all depends on active listening. Active listening is harder than you think. When you hear someone saying something you don't initially agree with, keep from interrupting and don't let your mind prepare any counter remarks. Just listen, and consider what they're saying and more importantly, why they believe that.

6. Keep your team informed

Share your opinion and ideas without trying to come up with a plan for taking credit for it. Transparency is key on a team, so keep your team members informed. Planning for your own success is important, but whether you get promoted may have a lot to do with how you communicated with your team members.

7. Always be ready to help

Even if it is not in your job description, be generous with pointers or tips to help your team members. For example, if a member of your team is having trouble with a technology tool that is easy for you, offer to sit down with him and show him what you know.

8. Support and respect others

It seems obvious that you wouldn't want to shut someone from your team out, or laugh at other people's ideas, but we do these things in a subtle way, without realizing it, all the time. It is important to become more self-aware of how you treat others. Remember, you'll receive respect when you give it to others. An ideal team player knows how to have fun, but he would never do it at someone else's expense.

9. Be a problem-solver

Your team leader may be working on solving problems, but there is no reason why you can't offer solutions yourself. Your teammates will appreciate your skills, and this may pays off later when your manager considers you for a promotion!

10. Recognize when you are wrong

A good team player will back off an idea when it becomes clear it's not the right path. If you believe strongly that your team is making a mistake, you can find a way to come back to the issue when the time is right, but being a stubborn stick in the mud is not a quality of a good team player.
This article was updated June 22, 2017. Original content was written by Lara Pole.
Comments

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Teamwork in the workplace: 10 qualities of an excellent team player - College Recruiter

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Every organization relies on good teams. Effective teamwork in the workplace helps drive the organization toward success. Here are a ten qualities that can make a team player outstanding in the workplace: Team players are genuinely committed to their cause.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The 4 Types of Team Members You Can Hire

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Know BEFORE your hire. Build your team with productive, trustworthy and safe team members, and avoid disruptive candidates right from the start. When you have multiple candidates, how do you know WHICH ONE will add the most value? Take the Performia challenge. Complete a Test Drive at www.performia.com.au

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Team players always focus on team efforts. And teamwork and productivity go hand in hand. When every team member does a brilliant job, the overall results will match. And it's our job to make sure we accommodate the team.

Even romantic relationships can be difficult to find and develop. And those typically involve 2 people. Recruiting, onboarding and developing a team member can be even more difficult. Firstly, there are many more people involved. Secondly, the incentives and end goals are different. Lastly, the strategy may or may not be based on exclusivity.

Truth be told, teams go through a long and difficult process to ensure the "right fit." And that's why teamwork doesn't just happen. And it's not too much to ask for a team player to step up and meet the team level. It might sound surprising. But today being "good at teams" is still a skill.

So let's continue going through some of the most valuable tips on being a better team player.

Firstly, a quick recap of previous tips we have went through so far:

#1 Onboard your skillset and your greatest talents.

#2 Lead by example, even if you're not the team leader.

#3 Develop a mindset in which your team comes first.

#4 Bring your positive emotions to the team.

#5 Remove negativity from your behavior.

#7 Build meaningful relationships with team members.

#8 Cultivate team trust.

#9 Be reliable.

#10 Teamwork is like a box of chocolates. Don't cherry-pick.

#11 Be like water.

#12 Give feedback regularly.

#13 Be the right amount of "active."

#14 Make sure you understand your role.

Secondly, pick 2 tips that you can best integrate in your daily routine. And now let us go through 7 more methods that will help you become a better team player.

#15 Always over-deliver for your team.

While "underpromise and overdeliver" is a cliché in the business world, the reverse holds true in teams. Oftentimes, "underpromising" is not really an option in a team. However, it's often a very good idea to over-deliver. Here's why.

The "norm" today is for people to deliver. That's expected and accepted. It's called doing your job, right? You do what you have to do. And your team gets what it needs. However, the equation is pretty simple:

your standard "delivery" package + your team putting in a standard effort = no competitive advantage => smaller chunk of the market => reduced profit margins

And that's precisely the issue. One extra "unit of personal investment" may significantly impact your R.O.I. On a personal level and as a team effort.

It's not about being your best self. In fact, some recruiters discount your exceptional qualities. So, instead assume you'll perform in the 70-90% range of your advertised qualities.

Think about it this way. Over-delivering means placing yourself at the level your teams need you. This is an opportunity to push yourself and your abilities upwards. Being good at what you do means that you deliver. Becoming great means that you over-deliver.

#16 Embrace diversity.

The past 5-7 decades have made most workplaces relatively diverse. Sure, there are not enough female coders. And in most countries, minorities and immigrants still face some issues when it comes to working in a team.

While the tech gap is slowly changing, it's important to note that most workplaces are diversity-friendly. That does not mean that they are diversity-aware. We've explained it before that diversity awareness is key. And that every company and every team should have at least one training in diversity.

However, the type of diversity you should embrace is of a different nature. To be a better team player, the diversity you need to embrace is no longer interpersonal. Rather, it is abstract.

In a sense, it's as simple as accepting that other people may have different opinions. And that your opinion is not necessarily the right one. To a greater degree, however, it is about accepting that a plurality of perspectives is a wealth of knowledge. And most teams today are made of knowledge workers.

So try and open up. You know you don't hold the ultimate truth. Nobody does. Instead, treat your team like a scatter plot. And draw that trend line. Now you know where to look.

# 17 Always practice active listening.

Active listening is a lot about knowing how to do 3 things.

Firstly, knowing how to give proper feedback. And not just nodding and smiling. Rather, try and meet the posture of your interlocutor. It will help you better understand how they feel while communicating with you. Imitation is not just flatter. It is empathy.

Secondly, know how to ask the right questions. There's no better proof of having listened. And asking the right questions proves you understood the conversation. They suggest that you are actively furthering your knowledge.

Lastly, make sure you will remember what was said. You could use a few strategies for memorization. Or simply try and take a few notes, if adequate.

Overall, understand that people communicating with you are awarding you their focus. They are using effort and energy to transmit knowledge. Meet that transmission in kind. Effective communications are crucial to teams.

# 18 Be in touch with your feelings.

It might sound awkward. Or even beyond the scope of how to be a team player. But not being in touch with your feelings affects how you relate. And how you empathize and understand others. All these are crucial to team synergy.

And you can end up having poor relations with others. Or even yourself. Also, being in touch with your feelings means you gain better control over your moods.

Productivity is affected by your state of mind. You can reduce your productivity by more than a third when you're in a foul mood. In fact, you can even get ill.

Being in touch with your feelings means that you know why you feel a certain way. And labeling your emotion is the first step to address the issue. So put some time aside regularly and try and catch up with how you feel.

# 19 Always move towards consensus.

A diversity of perspectives is a wealth of knowledge, it's true. And conflict management may not always be the best thing for your team. Also true. So why is it valuable to move towards consensus?

Because it saves time. When you move towards consensus, you're saving everybody's time. Your entire team gets significant productivity hours back as a result.

On the other hand, debating any issue can bring forth creative solutions. Delaying a decision might ensure it won't be the wrong one.

As a team player, you should make sure you validate consensus. If there is none to be validate, your job is to create it. For teams, consensus is dry land. Without it, everybody drifts away.

Your role is to spot consensus as soon as possible. And your team will be better off this way. Agreeableness is one key feature of team players. And this increases team effectiveness.

# 20 Focus on win-wins.

You should try and only engage teammates in win-win activities. This develops trusts and positivity. Activities that are win-lose result in unwanted competition. And it's negative experiences such as these that drastically affect productivity.

Any activity in which both you and another team member stand to gain is OK. Suppose you can get a discounted gym ticket if you bring along a team member. That's a great way to share a discount.

Here's the thing. "Win" and "Lose" are relative. Sometimes the distance between wins can create the illusion of loss.

Imagine we both work on a project and I get a pack of gum and you get a promotion. Rationally, I just gained a pack of gum. It's a win. But it won't count as a win considering your promotion.

Engaging in win-lose activities of any kind will poison team spirit. Your collaborations will suffer. And your mates will build you a reputation. That's right, behind your back.

That's why team players are always about the WIN-WIN.

# 21 Develop your team members.

Take an interest in your teammates. They are responsible for your success and failures. You are responsible for their success and failures. As a team, you are a unit of focalized power. You can do great things and overcome great obstacles. As individuals, you are more prone to failure. You will most likely snap if the pressure is too high.

A team is, in some ways, a structure. Reinforcing parts of the structure benefits the entire structure. All you have to do is pick the right parts and the right reinforcement.

Share your knowledge and your skills. You don't need to fear being replaced. You should only fear that not having developed your team members brought forth failure.
For more inspiration, feel free to check out Part 1 and Part 2 of The Teamwork Guide: How to Be a Better Team Player.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Teamwork Guide: How to Be a Better Team Player (Part 3)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Team players always focus on team efforts. And teamwork and productivity go hand in hand. When every team member does a brilliant job, the overall results will match. And it's our job to make sure we accommodate the team. Even romantic relationships can be difficult to find and develop.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Team productivity always boils down to team dynamics. Also, team members and their interactions matter more and more. And teams exist to synergies and cooperate. Our series explores some of the most valuable tips on how to be a better team player.

Without further ado, here are 7 more methods and attitudes that will help you be a better team member. In case you missed the first part of our teamwork guide, you can always read it here.

#8 Cultivate team trust.

Developing trust can be a challenge. Remember how easy it used to be when you were young? You could easily strike a friendship with anyone. And that's because children are more adaptable. Also, they are more like to trust other children. It seems like everything is easier for children. But adults need to cultivate trust. So why not do precisely that? Have a standard childlike approach to trust.

Firstly, assume everyone is worthy of your trust. This makes you open. And being open is a positive emotion. Also, the opposite of being open is being guarded. That makes everybody shut down. Secondly, consider some essential team trainings.

#9 Be reliable.

Being reliable is simple. You don't have to do something. Instead, you have to NOT do some things. Firstly, don't make promises you can't keep. Always fall back to your experience and call it as it is. Also, if you can't do something, don't say you will. Tell your team the truth. Think about it, it's easy. Just say "I can do it in 20 hours, 8 hours is not enough".

Secondly, don't submit sloppy work. Your team counts on you. And you want to inspire trust. A great deal of productivity is lost when your team has to recheck your work.

Lastly, don't be ambiguous about your time, progress and situation. Instead, make clear statements of personal deadlines and limits. Your team should know you need something by 5. Same thing with you letting everyone know you're ready by 5. Or that you won't be coming in the next day.

#10 Teamwork is like a box of chocolates. Don't cherry-pick.

You never know what you will get next. Some will taste nice. Others will taste odd. Projects and tasks are going to fluctuate. Some you will like. Others you will hate.

Here's the thing. People like to know you're dependable. Sure, you will like some tasks better than others. Others will make you responsible over something for no particular benefit. Nor satisfaction. But you should never avoid certain tasks.

In fact, even if you can trade with a teammate, don't. Instead, rise to the challenge and prove your worth. You're a person. Be adaptable. Deal with the tasks you don't like. Self-improvement works like that. It is adversity that helps us learn.

#11 Be like water.

Change is the only true permanence. Sounds creepy? That's because we're quoting Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher. Right after quoting Bruce Lee.

With any team, things will change. Statistically speaking, one of your teammates will leave by the end of the year. Also, it is very likely you will have a new team member join you in the next 6 months. That new member will need onboarding. And this will change the responsibilities of team members. While this might not affect you directly, it will affect your team. And soon you will have responsibilities you did not have a few months back.

Other things can happen as well. Strategies can change. Goals can change. Your team leader might start using micro-goals. Or your digital marketing budget is cut and now you only do videos.

Welcome change. This is what allows you to be your better self. And change what allows you to support your teammates. Most of all, change is what makes you valuable. Just make sure you change for the better.

#12 Give feedback regularly.

A lot of people think they know what feedback is. Yet they fail miserably at offering proper feedback. And this happens frequently. Even when people have received amazing feedback. Somehow, feedback is a tough nut to crack. It could be due to the fact that most people are conflict-averse. To them, offering feedback is a challenge. They assume that feedback is criticism. And it gets even worse with harmonizing introverts and extroverts.

Let's clarify. Firstly, feedback isn't criticism. Feedback is energy spent on improving something. Secondly, feedback should always be positive. If you have nothing good to say, say nothing at all. And clearly there is a way that you can help a person improve after receiving feedback. So go ahead and do that, offer a solution. Lastly, feedback isn't optimizing. Optimizing is something entirely different. So don't try to offer feedback with optimizations. That makes any positive feedback turn into criticism.

Instead, separate the two. First, offer the correct feedback for task A. Then explain: "This just gave me an idea." Make sure you explain how the idea is shared work. After all, your inspiration was refraining from offering "optimizers" in your feedback. Also, use this type of feedback in smart meetings.

#13 Be the right amount of "active."

This is a challenge. One of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is to be proactive. The modern issue with being too active is that you can de-energize teammates. Or create goal-contagion on unrelated events. Such as your marathon challenge.

And that's precisely it. Of course, being proactive is not the same as being too active. And sometimes being less active has advantages. For example, contemplating various issues with great focus.

The secret is to be "active and involved". This works well when you're trying to listen. Active listening means you can understand better. Also, it means you can make others feel understood. But being "the right amount of active" is all about control. Sometimes you should volunteer to do something nobody else wants to. Other times you should let someone else do it.

Think about being active as if it were a conversation. You shouldn't keep your mouth shut forever. Nor should you turn it into a monologue. Let's face it, being "active" is about finding balance. Within yourself and with your team.

#14 Make sure you understand your role.

During recruiting you will be selected on top of other candidates with similar skill and backgrounds. And you've applied to the job for several reasons. One of these reasons is self-evaluated fitness for the job description.

But most teams expect you to go above and beyond your job description. And so you should. The only way for you to develop professionally is to go above and beyond your job description. This does not mean that you should spend 12 hours a day on the job. Tasks you are not qualified to perform are also off the table.

But you need to outperform on those skills you bring to the table. A great example is Picard's team on Star Trek the next generation. Everybody knows their role. Proper hierarchy applies only when necessary. People are expected to perform better than the standard of their role.

That's easy to understand. It's goal contagion again. People want to be surrounded by achievers. It boosts overall productivity. And understanding your role is like figuring out what part of the recipe your work is.
More teamwork tips in the last part of our Teamwork Guide, coming up soon.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to Be a Better Team Member and Team Player (Part 2)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Team productivity always boils down to team dynamics. Also, team members and their interactions matter more and more. And teams exist to synergies and cooperate. Our series explores some of the most valuable tips on how to be a better team player.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
#1 Onboard your skillset and your greatest talents.

When you join a team, they might not know all that you have to offer. And that means you're underperforming.

So make sure you truly join in, not just tag along. Clearly, you can't start your first day with a new group explaining why you're so great and how. After all, that's what interviews are for.

Instead, offer to go the extra mile and get involved in those things you think you can contribute to. You will either learn you have a lot to offer or that you have a lot to learn. Sure, you need to play the hand you're dealt. Play on your strengths. And offer all you have to offer. But also make sure your team knows where you need development.

#2 Lead by example, even if you're not the team leader.

This is true for leaders, but also for other members. And it's even more true for teams that don't have an established leader. What happens when you set an example? Firstly, what you do is show your colleagues that you are willing to go the extra mile. Secondly, what you achieve is offering a modest source of inspiration.

It's simple: push forward with your hard work. Do everything with a touch of passion. We are living in a free world and your work is your choice. In fact, your work is the result of your choices, long before working with this team. Or even getting this job.

To lead by example, you need to hold yourself to a higher standard. A personal standard, one that emanates from your maturity. You are a responsible adult. And you find meaning in your work. Moreover, you are proud of improving.

The result of team members leading by example is similar to goal contagion. Everybody pumps up their performance and tries to level with your drive.

#3 Develop a mindset in which your team comes first.

You can see it in most sports. There are no team sports in which one player does it all. Well, there are bad team dynamics. When this happens, good players have to compensates. Most often, it takes a good group effort to make good players happen. And that's rare.

Grow your business faster with better team communication!

The strategic player, however, will look at the team as means to reach specific goals. Also, a strategic player understands the team as a larger, similarly minded entity. And one of the best ways to ensure mutual success is investing in the team.

Shared goals, shared costs. And whenever you need to put in those extra hours do so. That's what makes the difference. Also, whenever you reach results, give credit to whom it is due. And it is never due to you. Rather, credit is always due to the team.

This doesn't mean that you have to exaggerate. Although there's no clear-cut measure, you should try and keep yourself marginally above the average of irregular extra-efforts. Sounds complicated? That's because we're trying to abstract something that should be a gut feeling.

Instead, think about it this way. Your team is your boat. If your boat is sinking and you can do something, just do it. Hence, you need to put in what's needed to keep the boat together.

#4 Bring your positive emotions to the team.

Might be counterintuitive, but it works for several reasons. Firstly, people respond to emotional cues. That's how empathy works. And with positive emotions, your whole team lights up. And they don't even know why.

Secondly, positivity is always win-win. Everybody feels better after a positive interaction. And it's not just birthdays and other special events. When you bring positivity at work, other people can even empathize with your postural cues. They start feeling more positive without an explanation.

Lastly, bringing personal positivity to the team implicitly means that you need to keep negativity at bay.

#5 Remove negativity from your behavior.

Although it might sound esoteric, it is not. Negative energy is toxic. And you can see it in real life, all the time. For example, complaining. When you complain about your tasks or responsibilities, you create negative energy.

How? Our minds follow a very simple logic. When someone complains, there must be something wrong. What could it be? Consider that the one complaining is a team member. A fellow. Also, it must mean that what is wrong cannot be overcome. It is a source of pain and distress for everybody.

And it does more damage than being a distraction. It is the unknown "bad thing" that causes unwarranted stress and anxiety. And to nobody's benefit. Removing negativity is one of the best ways to better yourself as a team member.

#7 Build meaningful relationships with team members.

You're part of a team. And that's amazing. Every day you work on common goals. And you celebrate milestones. Yet how often is it that you get to meet the people you work with outside work?

Times are changing. People are doing part of their work from home. Nobody really follows the cue of the 8-hour workday. And work relationships also follow that trend.

Clearly, you are not expected to make no difference between your private life and your work life. But lines are fading anyway. When was the last time you and a colleague spent extra hours working on something?

Similarly, make a step outside work and connect with your team. And you should also try and know your team better. Listen and understand them. Also, try to see what motivates them. Rather than make yourself known, try and see what the others are. This is a fundamental type of interpersonal courtesy. But ask yourself this. Is there more that you can do? If yes, go ahead and do it.

Showing a genuine interest in others can never become a sunken cost. That's the secret key to optimizing team collaboration.
More tips on teamwork coming up soon. Stay tuned for The Teamwork Guide: How to Be a Better Team Player (Part 2)!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Teamwork Guide: How to Be a Better Team Player

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
When you join a team, they might not know all that you have to offer. And that means you're underperforming. So make sure you truly join in, not just tag along. Clearly, you can't start your first day with a new group explaining why you're so great and how.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Frodo Baggins embarks on a dangerous quest to take the One Ring and destroy it by throwing it into Mount Doom, all with the help of the Fellowship of the Ring (which is comprised of four hobbits, an elf, a dwarf, a human and a wizard). Likewise, the Power Rangers are a group of five teenagers who band together to kick Rita Repulsa's butt and save the world in the process.

Some jobs simply cannot be done alone - as evidenced by movies, books and comics such as these - and require teamwork and trusted colleagues in the workplace to effectively complete the task at hand on time. After all, they say that two heads are better than one for a reason, and we've got 10 reasons for you.

Join us as we take a look at the 10 benefits of teamwork in the workplace.

1. Boosts Productivity

First things first, working within a team allows for the workload to be shared equally among members and distributed according to each member's skills and strengths. With more hands on deck, tasks are completed faster and more efficiently, basically increasing productivity.

For example, if one employee has to deliver an important report within 24 hours but has a backlog of 72 hours' worth of work, the end result will most likely be subpar. Worse, still, he might not even be able to finish it at all. However, if he were to collaborate with someone else, chances are the report will be delivered with plenty of time to spare.

2. Provides a Support Network

A strong team environment is essential for the success of any business, especially during difficult and challenging times when team members will help and rely on each other for support and guidance. This allows them to remain focused on the goal and they can complete projects more efficiently. Conversely, a stressed-out individual with a heavy workload working alone is at risk of becoming overwhelmed and making bad and costly decisions, as well as burning out.

3. Encourages Innovation

Two heads are better than one, and this is especially true in the workplace. Teams are better able to produce more creative, innovative and practical solutions to problems than someone working alone.

When bouncing ideas off one another in a brainstorming session, employees tend to feel more confident about coming up with unique and more outside-the-box ideas. On the other hand, someone working alone will usually present the safer option to their manager.

4. Improves Morale

When the workload is shared and members of a team collaborate, they can feel a greater sense of accomplishment when they complete a task and reach a goal that they would not have been able to achieve had they been working alone. This, combined with a sense of belonging, appreciation and recognition, can drastically improve employee self-esteem and morale. In turn, when employees find joy in their work and experience job satisfaction and less stress, companies see a drastically lowered turnover rate.

5. Attracts Talent

Within the next 10 years, the global workforce is expected to be almost entirely comprised of Millennials. And considering how Millennials value collaboration over competition, it's important that companies cater to the needs of their future employees by creating a company culture they want to be part of. By doing so, companies are able to attract - and retain - top talent.

6. Establishes Strong Relationships

Another huge benefit of teamwork is the establishment and development of strong relationships among co-workers. This helps them communicate more freely and openly, as well as encourage and motivate each other to work to their strengths and talents, which is key to the success of any organisation.

Generally speaking, being part of a team allows members to build trust and share a strong bond with each other, creating an environment where they feel comfortable trying new ways of doing things and asking questions about things they don't understand. Without trust, the team is destined to fail and will inevitably crumble.

7. Improves Service

The importance of teamwork is not limited to the workplace but also to the service provided to customers. Generally speaking, people tend to shy away from companies with unhappy employees and prefer doing business with organisations whose employees demonstrate a strong work ethic and team spirit. Teams that work well together are, therefore, essential in improving service and meeting the needs of customers.

8. Allows Flexibility

Collaboration in the workplace may mean the added benefit of a more flexible work schedule, as members are generally cross-trained to cover for each other's skills and strengths. In fact, this allows employees to plan their personal obligations (like childcare or doctor's appointments, for example) with little disruption to projects while ensuring that important and fast-approaching deadlines are met. It's also important to note that flexible working can help to improve productivity and develop a better work-life balance for employees.

9. Teaches Conflict Resolution Skills

No two employees are the same and polar-opposite personalities will clash in the workplace. They often have different habits and work styles, and this can frustrate one another. However, because each member of a team collectively works toward a common goal, they learn to resolve disagreements on their own for the sake of the project and their team. This is especially important in healthcare as it increases patient safety.

10. Advances Your Career

Finally, working as part of a team can help you advance your career. By collaborating with others at work, you're exposed to their skill sets, can learn from them and expand your own skill set. Not only that but it also provides you with the prospect of building your professional network with alliances that can potentially lead to bigger and better opportunities further down the road.

It can also be an excellent opportunity to lead, which can help present yourself in a positive light in your next performance review as well as give your CV a boost and, consequently, give you a huge advantage over the competition.

Can you think of any other benefits of teamwork in the workplace? Do you prefer working alone or collaborating with others? Join the conversation below and let us know if you're a lone wolf or a team player!
This article was originally published in February 2016.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
10 Benefits of Teamwork in the Workplace

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Frodo Baggins embarks on a dangerous quest to take the One Ring and destroy it by throwing it into Mount Doom, all with the help of the Fellowship of the Ring (which is comprised of four hobbits, an elf, a dwarf, a human and a wizard).

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
"Two heads are better than one." We've all heard the old adage encouraging teamwork, but what does working together really do for you? Salesmen thrive off healthy competition, but sometimes the use of teamwork in the workplace is a better answer for winning sales. Here are six ways that teamwork benefits you in the workplace.

1. Fosters Creativity and Learning

Creativity thrives when people work together on a team. Brainstorming ideas as a group prevents stale viewpoints that often come out of working solo. Combining unique perspectives from each team member creates more effective selling solutions.

What you have learned from your individual experiences is entirely different from your coworkers. Thus, teamwork also maximizes shared knowledge in the workplace and helps you learn new skills you can use for the rest of your career.

Collaborating on a project creates an enthusiasm for learning that solitary work usually lacks. Being able to share discoveries with the rest of your team excites employees and fosters both individual and team knowledge.

2. Blends Complementary Strengths

Working together lets employees build on the talents of their teammates. While your strength may be creative thinking, a coworker might shine in organization and planning. Do not hesitate to share your abilities with the team.

Often, a team works well together because team members rely on each other to bring individual talents to the table. By observing the process behind these skills, you can learn how to combine your gifts and become a stronger team.

Every time you see your coworkers utilize a different approach in sales, you have a chance to adjust or improve your methods.

3. Builds Trust

Relying on other people builds trust, and teamwork establishes strong relationships with coworkers. Despite occasional disagreements, an effective team enjoys working together and shares a strong bond. When you put your trust in a coworker, you are establishing the foundation of a relationship that can endure minor conflicts.

Trusting your teammates also provides a feeling of safety that allows ideas to emerge. It helps employees open up and encourage each other. Open communication is key when working on a team and produces effective solutions in difficult group projects.

Without trust, a team crumbles and cannot succeed on assigned projects. Great teams build each other up and strengthen individual members to create a cohesive group. By working together, employees learn that wins and losses affect everyone on the team. Teamwork necessitates confidence in each other's distinct abilities.

4. Teaches Conflict Resolution Skills

Conflicts inevitably happen when you put together a group of unique people. Employees come from varied backgrounds and have different work styles and habits. While these unique viewpoints create the most successful work, they can also generate resentment that quickly turns into conflict.

When conflict arises in teamwork situations, employees are forced to resolve the conflicts themselves instead of turning to management. Learning conflict resolution firsthand is a skill that employees can use to become efficient managers down the road.

5. Promotes a Wider Sense of Ownership

Team projects encourage employees to feel proud of their contributions. Tackling obstacles and creating notable work together makes team members feel fulfilled. Working toward achieving company goals allows employees to feel connected to the company. This builds loyalty, leading to a higher level of job satisfaction among employees.

Teamwork is not just helpful for employees. It benefits the employer in the long run as well. Employees that connect directly with their workplace are more likely to stay with the company. While employees leaving their jobs often cite a lacking salary, another common complaint is that their contributions do not seem to matter. Teamwork allows people to engage with the company and add to the bigger picture.

6. Encourages Healthy Risk-Taking

An employee working on a project alone will probably not want to stick their neck out for an off-the-wall idea. If the project fails when working solo, that employee takes the full brunt of the blame. While you may not get full credit for a successful team project, working with other people spreads out the responsibility for a failed assignment.

Working as a team allows team members to take more risks, as they have the support of the entire group to fall back on in case of failure. Conversely, sharing success as a team is a bonding experience. Once a team succeeds together, their brainstorming sessions will produce revolutionary ideas without hesitation. In many cases, the riskiest idea turns out to be the best idea. Teamwork allows employees the freedom to think outside the box.

There may be no "I" in team, but teamwork can still benefit employees on a personal level. Do not allow competitive natures to get in the way of personal growth in the workplace. Instead, understand how to resolve conflicts and trust teammates to contribute their best ideas. Learn from your team members and build on each other's skills to create more impressive results in the workplace.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
"Two heads are better than one." We've all heard the old adage encouraging teamwork, but what does working together really do for you? Salesmen thrive off healthy competition, but sometimes the use of teamwork in the workplace is a better answer for winning sales. Here are six ways that teamwork benefits you in the workplace.

# data[].attributes.headline
Teamwork: Community Building - Cup Stacking

# data[].attributes.subject
Teamwork: Community Building - Cup Stacking

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Madagascar Penguins Best and funniest Team work

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How Do Negative & Positive Attitudes Affect the Workplace?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Workplace attitudes have an effect on every person in the organization, from the employees to the company owner. Attitudes help to develop the prevailing workplace environment that determines ...

# data[].attributes.headline
Attitude: 18 Ways to Keep a Positive Attitude

# data[].attributes.subject
Attitude: 18 Ways to Keep a Positive Attitude

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
What if there was a way you could easily expand your mind and see greater possibilities in life? What if you could develop better skills naturally?

When people think of having a positive attitude, they probably think it's little more than plastering a smile on their face and trying to think happy thoughts.

But it's more than that.

A positive attitude is something that goes deeper and has an effect beyond surface cheer. Negative attitudes promote fear, and a narrowing of focus and the mind, while positive attitudes do the opposite. No one should live in a constant state of "fight or flight", but negative attitudes create exactly that scenario.

Studies have also shown that having a true positive attitude makes your view of life seem broad, full of possibilities. That view leads to actually living your life in a way that makes it natural to be exposed to and acquire new skills.

So how do you go about getting a positive attitude, particularly if it doesn't come naturally to you?

1. Surround yourself with positive people.

The old saying "birds of a feather flock together" can be viewed two ways. Either people who are similar naturally find each other, or people in a group become the same over time.

Surround yourself with positive people.

Who you hang around with rubs off on you. If you're always with negative people who complain about everything, you'll become a complainer and see the world as negative as they do. You might think you can stay positive and change them, but that's not going to be the case. Try to connect with people who like their job, have new ideas, and are interested in lots of other things besides work. It'll make your whole outlook better.

You can't always pick your co-workers, but you can be cautious about how much time you spend with them, and in what setting. If you're stuck with a negative bunch, be careful not to participate in the negativity. Take breaks and go for a walk rather than immerse yourself in negative breakroom drama and gossip.

2. Fill your mind with positive input.

The same way that the people you are around change you to be more like them, so is what you feed your mind.

Listen to positive music with headphones. Listen to uplifting audio books on the drive into work. Read books that are encouraging. Watch videos and listen to podcasts that are positive or help you improve skills.

If you are what you eat holds true for your body, your mind is what you feed it.

3. Control your language.

No, this isn't about the language police, or trying to swear less (although the latter is probably a good idea). This is about being conscious of the words you use when speaking and thinking.

The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis (which played heavily into the recent movie "Arrival") suggests that the structure of language affects a person's view of the world, and the way they think. Taken to the furthest extent, your language actually limits or delineates how you are able to perceive the world.

It's a hypothesis, granted.

But on a smaller level, the language you use every day, both in thought and spoken word, has a cumulative effect on how you think about yourself, your work, and those around you.

This may seem like a silly example, but it might be the difference between seeing your day as filled with tasks, or filled with opportunities. The former is tiring and arduous, making you feel trapped in a daily grind. The latter is exciting with potential.

Be aware of how you choose to think and speak at work. Find a positive way to view everything and everyone.

4. Create a routine for the day.

Routines get a bad rap.

It's easy to think that if you have a routine at work, you're stuck in a rut or you're not "flexible". The truth is, though, that routines give us good fall-back structure. A morning routine is especially good, since for many people, the morning is both when we're most alert and awake yet sometimes not able to buckle down and get started.

Create a routine that helps you get the most important work done, take breaks at the right time, and leaves the last hour or so of the work day for less arduous work and preparation for the next day. Most of us get tired by the end of the day, so don't leave tough work for then. It's important to end each day by getting prepared for the next.

5. Be nice to other people.

Being kind to other people makes you happy.

A study in the Journal of Social Psychology found that doing something kind for people has the same effect as trying new and exciting things when it comes to feeling happy.

Even better?

A study in the Journal of Happiness Studies found that the memory of doing something kind for someone causes us to want to do it again.

So. If you make being nice to other people a regular thing, it'll become a cycle of generosity and happiness that makes you feel good as well as causes those you are nice to, to feel happy as well.

Think of the worst negative work environment possible. Negativity feeds on more negativity until it seems overwhelming. Be nice to other people and watch them pay it forward.

If your work is difficult and you can't get away from that, and finding a positive attitude about the work itself is a challenge, be kind to the people around you and let that be an effective subsitute.

6. Don't rely on an outside source of positivity.

Carry a positive attitude with you.

Think of a positive attitude like a survival tool: carry it with you at all times for emergencies.

Whether you rely on a phrase that you repeat over and over when times are stressful or you have some other trick to help resurrect and keep a positive attitude, be sure to come up with a mechanism that doesn't rely on someone else or a specific situation.

7. Create high points in each day and week.

One of the best parts of an exciting vacation is the days leading up to it, when you have it to look forward to. Knowing something good is coming can make otherwise dreary days more bearable.

You can create the same effect by creating small "high points" in each day to help you get through projects or days that might otherwise seem draining. This is why taking breaks is important, but not every break is as valuable as they could be.

A few suggestions:

Don't turn to unhealthy food as a reward. You'll end up with negative effects and a bad habit for junk food or excessive coffee.

Take breaks outside or away from work when possible.

Consider a walk, solitude, silence - whatever sounds good and is doable where you work.

Find a place to read a book not related to work.

Daily high points should be small and simple, not requiring money or creating a habit that could have negative effects on your health or budget if you do them every day (e.g. walk to the bakery for a donut and coffee every day). Weekly or monthly high points can be a bit bigger. Maybe every Thursday you eat lunch at a restaurant nearby instead of bringing in your own lunch. Whatever it is, create something to look forward to.

8. Assume responsibility, and choose your response.

Refusing to take responsibility for your actions and your situation, or not taking control of how you respond, kills a positive attitude immediately.

After all, if something happens and you're at fault or in some way responsible, refusing to acknowledge it means you can't correct the behavior and it will happen again, and you also set yourself up for a victimhood mindset in which things happen to you.

You will be more positive seeing life as something you have some control over rather than at the mercy of fate. Think of it as an equation: E + R = O (event + response = outcome). How you respond has an effect on the outcome, even when events are out of your control.

9. Decide your reaction to known problems ahead of time.

Whether it's clients or co-workers or regular projects, there are some things at work that you are always going to dread dealing with.

You know they upset you. Decide beforehand that they will not.

If a client always has to make changes, expect it. Choose to be calm about it, to not let it bother you. Try to look at the client or co-worker that's driving you nuts in a different way. Maybe they are having a bad time at home, or they are stressed themselves.

10. Breathe deeply.

Breathing deeply tricks your body into calming down. Calm people have better attitudes.

If you find yourself getting a bad attitude about something, find a place where you can be alone, and do some deep breathing exercises. Not only does it reduce stress, but it helps you clear your mind and see the situation in a different way.

11. Make a mission statement.

Where you work probably has a mission statement, but you should have one yourself.

A personal mission statement will help you define your purpose at work, what your life is about, and what motivates your behavior. It's a good thing to fall back on when work gets crazy and you're confused about what it is you're doing.

When you feel like you have purpose, you can be positive. When you feel like you don't have a purpose or you don't know what you're doing at work...not so much.

12. Have personal goals.

Goals are a bit different from personal mission statements in that they are specific things you want to achieve. They're kind of like the rewards I talked about earlier in that they give you something to look forward to.

However, goals aren't just "fun in the future", but are the actual guides that you use to achieve.

It's tough to be positive if you think you're going nowhere. Goals are the proof that you have a plan and you're working towards something. They are evidence of forward, positive motion.

13. Remember that no one owes you anything.

One of the worst killers of a good attitude is going through life thinking people owe you.

No one owes you anything. Life's not fair. Believing anything else sets you up to be in a constant state of blame, victimhood, anger, passive-aggressiveness, and joylessness. Negativity is the standard state of existence if you think the world owes you.

How do you get rid of an attitude of entitlement?

It's up to me to make things happen.

Hard work is what brings good things.

I have to be willing to accept change quickly.

When things are difficult, I still keep going.

If those four concepts are in your head, you're not going to be wallowing in negativity waiting for the world to do something for you.

14. Stop complaining.

We mentioned how you need to control your language. That obviously covers complaining, but complaints are such a huge issue that they warrant their own section.

Stop complaining.

Complaining does nothing. If you're around people who complain a lot, get away from them. Try to see the situation in a positive or different light.

Complaints are a way of seeing everything in a negative light without considering any other explanation. It's a one-way road to dissatisfaction that builds the further you travel it.

15. Embrace laughing.

Laughing is good for your physically, and of course, it helps you feel much better. Who doesn't love a good laugh?

Humor is especially good when things are going terribly wrong. Who doesn't love the guy who, in the middle of some nightmare project, offers a quip that suddenly makes the entire mess seem hilarious? Be that guy. Try to find humor wherever you can.

Laughing with people is different than laughing at them. Never joke about others to get a laugh at their expense.

16. Be curious and embrace learning.

A mind that is closed to learning new things grows stagnant and negative. Change, new ideas, or any additional task becomes onerous to someone like that.

Be a person who is willing to learn and is curious about many things. Your attitude will be positive because you are forward-looking and wanting to understand instead of closed off. Being curious about a new situation or what's going on tends to make you mindful and aware of the present moment, and that tends to force out negative attitudes.

17. Look to long-term instead of short-term.

When the situation is difficult in the short-term, adjust your vision to the long-term.

Short-term situations tend to be heavy on the emotion. Making decisions or taking action based on that is not only a bad idea, but tends to feed negative attitudes. Viewing things in the long-term, on the other hand, make the challenges of the now seem much less terrible because the bigger picture reveals an exciting outcome.

While it's not good to live in a realm of make-believe, thinking realistically in the long-term provides a positive spin to your day and helps you construct those goals we mentioned earlier.

18. Fake it until you make it.

No, this is not a call to be be a hypocrite.

The reality is, though, that sometimes we don't always "feel" the emotion we want. Sitting around waiting for it to come upon us is a sure way to make certain it never comes. You often have to fake it until the real deal arrives.

Don't feel happy? Don't feel excited about a presentation? Fake it. More often than not, the real emotion will show up. You're not going to feel super excited and positive every day, but don't let that stop you from the behavior that goes along with it, anyway.

Drive your emotions; don't let them drive you.

At age 76, Gen. MacArthur said: "You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your confidence, as old as your fear; as young as your hope, as old as your despair. In the central place of every heart, there is a recording chamber; so long as it receives messages of beauty, hope, cheer and courage; so long as you are young. When the wires are all down and your heart is covered with snows of pessimism and the ice of cynicism, then and only then are you grown old."
Take this list of ways to keep a positive attitude. Add to it the tricks you've figured out on your own. And then, do it. Constantly. Do the work of keeping a positive attitude alive at work. It will have a huge impact on your entire life, and in the lives around you.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
18 Simple Ways to Keep a Positive Attitude at Work - When I Work

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
What if there was a way you could easily expand your mind and see greater possibilities in life? What if you could develop better skills naturally? When people think of having a positive attitude, they probably think it's little more than plastering a smile on their face and trying to think happy thoughts.

# data[].attributes.headline
Attitude: 5 Attitudes that are Important in the Workplace

# data[].attributes.subject
Attitude: 5 Attitudes that are Important in the Workplace

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Beyond the skills and experience to do the job, attitude plays an equal role in company productivity and employee satisfaction. Look for people with certain attitudes and develop them in the staff you have to make a difference in the bottom line.

It may seem as if skills and experience are the most important characteristics of an employee, but attitude plays just as big of a role. After all, what good are great professional skills without the attitude to see it all through? There are five key attitudes that small businesses should seek out in employees to ensure a harmonious professional environment and a productive staff.

Respect for Others

Respect in the workplace doesn't solely extend to the way employees interact with management. People who have self-respect don't do managers' biding no matter what; they think for themselves and present alternative ideas at times, but respectfully. Employees should also have a respectful attitude when interacting with clients and customers as well as co-workers. Those with this type of attitude are willing to treat other people politely and professionally, even if they disagree with the other person's point of view.

Infectious Enthusiasm

Someone who is enthusiastic about life in general radiates a positive energy that rubs off on everyone around her. She dives into every project with interest, eagerly learns new skills and ideas and quickly applies them to her work. Some people are born with positive energy, but it can also be developed. Teach your staff to approach every situation, positive or negative, as a challenge and an opportunity. Adopt a "glass half full" attitude in the company and encourage employees to build on it. Soon they'll extend an enthusiastic attitude toward co-workers, customers and everything they do.

Commitment to the Job

Small businesses need employees who are not only committed to the goals and initiatives that affect the bottom line, but who also are committed to their particular positions. Employees project a committed attitude by showing a willingness to do whatever it takes to fulfill the duties of their positions and via the development of new ideas to make the company even better. When committed individuals work together as a team towards company goals, everyone benefits.

Innovative Ideas

Employees with an innovative attitude don't shy away from trying something new or finding a different way to do things. Small businesses need employees who can think outside of the box and innovate new ways to accomplish existing tasks and approach goals. Employees with this type of attitude know their ideas might not work out to be the best way to do something, but that the biggest failure is not at least giving new ideas a shot.

Helpfulness

It is important to have a helpful attitude at work, whether that means assisting clients and customers with their needs or helping co-workers accomplish overall company goals. The more helpful an attitude employees have, the more people want to be around them at work and the more willing they are to partner with those employees on key projects and initiatives.

About the Author

Lynda Moultry Belcher is a writer, editor and public relations professional. She worked for a daily newspaper for 10 years and has been a freelance writer for more than 15 years. She has contributed to Divorce360 and Revolution Health Group, among other publications. She is also the author of "101 Plus-Size Women's Clothing Tips" and writes "Style At Any Size," a bi-weekly newspaper column.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Five Attitudes That Are Important in Workplaces

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Beyond the skills and experience to do the job, attitude plays an equal role in company productivity and employee satisfaction. Look for people with certain attitudes and develop them in the staff you have to make a difference in the bottom line.

# data[].attributes.headline
Attitude: 10 Ways to Keep a Positive Attitude

# data[].attributes.subject
Attitude: 10 Ways to Keep a Positive Attitude

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Do you see the glass half empty or half full? Positive things come to positive people.

This holds true in both in life and in the workplace. A positive attitude at work can be the difference between success and failure.

Here we share 10 easy ways to maintain a positive attitude in the office and transform your everyday experience.

1. Act Professionally

This piece of advice holds true for any line of work. The way you carry yourself speaks volumes about your work ethic. You will find mutual respect in the office when you handle yourself and negative situations professionally.

If you're having an issue with a co-worker or another element that is affecting your positive attitude at work, it needs to be addressed. And there's a right and wrong way to go about it.

Bring issues to your superior, whether that's your direct manager, boss or owner of the company. Try to approach the matter in an open and constructive way. No one likes a "tattle-tail" so pick your battles and handle them with dignity.

2. Take Breaks

Even the most dedicated workers need a rest once in a while. Allowing your mind and body to take a break from work is imperative to maintaining a positive attitude.

A break doesn't just need to be for your mind, but your body as well. Head outside for some fresh air and even a short walk. Stand up and stretch your arms and legs or visit another co-worker across the office. Changing your environment, even for a short time, can help you mentally "reset" for the task at hand.

Physical activity can also prevent workplace injuries and keep you alert and productive. Allow yourself a short vacation or long weekend. Sometimes you need some distance to gain perspective on your job.

3. Keep Your Mind Positive

This means surrounding yourself with positive things and people. There are a few ways to make sure you're ingesting positive vibes.

Try listening to upbeat music or inspirational podcasts on your way to work (or on your breaks)! Keep calming photos and inspirational quotes in eye-sight at your desk. Find what motivates you and keep it near.

Another element to keeping a positive mind frame is the ability to identify and eliminate your negative thoughts. This means removing the words 'no' and 'I can't' from your vocabulary.

Do you enjoy a good laugh for stress relief? Check out some of the latest jokes to keep your mood fun and productive.

4. Set and Crush Your Goals

Having a positive attitude at work means changing things up. It's important to set goals for yourself and then work toward achieving them.

Goals don't need to be big or life-altering to leave you feeling motivated and accomplished. Even small, weekly goals are a great place to start. Sit down on Monday and outline what you want to accomplish by Friday - then do it!

5. Be Grateful

Not everyone can love their job, but there are certain parts of your job that you must like, or else why would you be there?

Be grateful for the perks of your job and let those help drive your positive attitude at work. Also, be grateful that you have a job. With the unemployment rate at 4.4% across the country, even holding a job is something to be thankful for.

Keep a gratitude journal outlining all of the things you appreciate and value in life - this gratitude will transfer to the office.

6. Manage Your Workload

If you're under too much stress you can't perform your job to your fullest potential. This can negatively impact your positivity and productivity.

If you're feeling overwhelmed with your workload, see what you can do to change it. Ask your coworkers if they have suggestions or are willing to trade-off on certain job responsibilities. Go to your boss (in a professional manner) and see about lightening or adjusting your workload.

A less stressed employee is a happier and more productive one.

7. Get a Good Night's Sleep

Your mother wasn't lying when she told you a good night's sleep does a body good (milk too). Without a solid night's sleep, you'll likely feel sluggish, unmotivated and moody in the morning. This is no way to enter the office.

Your positive attitude at work starts with a good night's sleep the evening before. No one is too old for a bedtime. Make a promise to yourself to turn the TV off at a certain time and limit stimulating activity before bed.

Your morning-self will thank you.

8. Surround Yourself With Positivity

Decorating your desk and cubicle aren't the only ways to surround yourself with positivity - the people you interact with impact your attitude too.

This is another piece of advice your mom probably gave you - guilt by association. Granted this isn't exactly the same sentiment, but pretty close! If you surround yourself with people that complain, slack-off and talk negatively about the company you work for, you'll likely follow suit.

Separate yourself from negative thoughts by separating yourself from negative people. Improve your positive attitude at work by seeking out like-minded co-workers that share your same vision and goals.

9. Better Yourself

No one can improve your mindset better than you. Be open-minded to learning new things and embrace professional development opportunities.

Embrace your curiosity. By bettering yourself and acquiring new skills, you'll feel more confident and knowledgeable about your position. Your newfound skills might even land you a new job opportunity.

Try to be open to change versus resistant. Knowing what's happening around you and the current trends in your field could make your job easier, leading to a more positive attitude at work.

10. Smile More

This might seem like a silly piece of advice, but smiling more can actually improve your mood - even if it's a fake smile. Others will react well to this "new you".

A smile shows confidence and positivity. Even if you don't embody these feelings when you first start out, in time, your mind will catch up to your body's display of happiness.

Don't believe it? One study shows that forcing a smile can actually improve your mood because your body associates certain muscle movements with feelings of happiness.

This gives the saying, "fake it til you make it" a whole new meaning!

Show Off Your Positive Attitude at Work

Now that you're armed with the tools needed to bring a happier, more positive approach to the office, it's time to show off the new you!

Head into work on Monday morning with a smile on your face (even if it's a fake one), positive music playing in your ears, a professional attitude and tons of inspirational quotes to display around your workspace.

By keeping these few tips in mind, you can transform your entire life. Get a good night's sleep tonight so you can tackle tomorrow.

Good luck!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
10 Easy Ways to Keep a Positive Attitude at Work - USA TODAY Classifieds

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Do you see the glass half empty or half full? Positive things come to positive people. This holds true in both in life and in the workplace. A positive attitude at work can be the difference between success and failure. Here we share 10 easy ways to maintain a positive attitude in the office and transform your everyday experience.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
When deciding on your work clothes it's important to be both comfortable and professional.

Without comfortable attire, you may have a hard time performing your job at your highest potential. And without professional looking clothing, people might think that you don't take your job seriously.

In order to avoid this, here are some tips for selecting the right work clothes for every position.

Look Around You

A good place to start when choosing the proper work clothes for your new job is sizing up your coworkers. If you're working in a corporate office, are the women wearing pantsuits and heels? Or slacks and loafers?

If the office has an overall laid back feel, you might be okay wearing jeans, sneakers and a T-shirt. Often times in the new age of digital marketing, you'll find a lot of offices with a more casual dress code.

It's always suggested to dress-up versus dressing down for your initial interview. Unless you know for certain that the office is accepting of less formal choices.

Once you determine the type of clothing your new position requires, you can start buying!

Choose Work Clothes that Fit

Whether you are male or female, you should purchase well-tailored clothes that fit you properly.

Don't wear anything that is too oversized as it may appear sloppy. Clothes that are too large could inhibit your work. Long sleeves can easily get in the way and clothes that are too large on the bottom may fall off your waste or drag on the floor.

You also don't want to purchase clothing that is too form-fitting. Whether you are working at a desk or on your feet, clothes that are too small can constrict your movement and leave you feeling uncomfortable most of the day.

Choose the Right Shoes

Shoes may be one of the most important pieces to your wardrobe. That's because most people are on their feet at one time or another during their workday.

If you work in retail or at a restaurant, you'll especially want to invest a quality pair of shoes. The right pair will often have non-skid bottoms and a supportive, comfortable fit.

If you're standing all day behind a counter, places like Shoe Wow offer a wide variety of both stylish and comfortable styles. Even if you work a desk job, you still need to get to and from your office. This could mean walking from a parking garage, traveling a few blocks or climbing stairs.

You should take all of these things into consideration when choosing your footwear.

If you want to wear heels, be sure to carry a comfortable pair of sneakers in your bag. You can easily change before you head in or before you head home at the end of the day.

Start with the Basics

Whether you're a male or a female, there are some basic work clothes everyone should have in their closet. Some staple items that can be mixed and matched will help you maintain a professional appearance on a budget.

Bottoms

For women, a classic pencil skirt is a staple item you should have in your closet. It looks professional, neat and can be paired with several tops and shoes. You can wear a pencil skirt with a blouse or blazer and heels, flats or boots. Versatile items like this is a must-have when building our work wardrobe.

Men can't go wrong with a pair of well-pressed khakis or chinos. Worn with a collared Polo shirt or a button-up can make for a semi-casual, yet professional look.

A nice pair of jeans has a place in both a male and female work wardrobe. Any wash is fine - light or dark - but leave the holes for your weekend jeans. You can transform your denim into work clothes by adding a few more formal accessories like a belt, nice blouse, classy shoes or jewelry.

Tops

Blazers, like jeans, are work clothes that have appeal for both men and women.

Women's blazers should be well-tailored and can be easily thrown on over any blouse to add a more professional appearance. You can opt to wear a blazer over a dress as well.

Men's blazers are a great way to turn a semi-casual outfit into a more formal one without having to wear a three-piece suit. If there's a work meeting with a special or prospective client, you can wear a nice navy blazer over a collared or button-up shirt.

Rotate

There's a pretty well-known rule about clothing - if you haven't worn it in 2-3 years, donate it. Often times you'll wear the same few staple items in some sort of weekly rotation.

If you find items in your closet that haven't been worn in several years, there's probably a reason. Either they don't fit or they're out of style. If this is the case, it's best to remove and donate them. This makes room for new, more stylish and versatile work clothes in your closet.

Show Your Personality

It's okay to show a little bit of your personality in your work clothes, where appropriate. This can be done in a variety of ways.

You can add some unique or classic jewelry items to any outfit. The options are a little more varied for women, as they can wear statement bracelets, necklaces and earrings to dress-up a basic outfit.

Men can add a nice, leather watch, belt or cufflinks to liven up their attire. Just be sure to take your cues from coworkers and managerial staff. If they aren't too daring with their choices, you probably shouldn't be either.

Dress for Success

There are so many ways for you to dress both comfortably and professionally when on the job.

Fill your closet with some classic pieces and then spice things up with patterns, jewelry, and other accessories. Be sure that the work clothes you choose are in style, well-fitted and appropriate.

When you feel good in what you're wearing, you'll feel confident in yourself and your new position.

So dress for success and get out there!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to Buy Comfortable and Professional Work Clothes - USA TODAY Classifieds

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
When deciding on your work clothes it's important to be both comfortable and professional. Without comfortable attire, you may have a hard time performing your job at your highest potential. And without professional looking clothing, people might think that you don't take your job seriously.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Have you ever woken up and thought - Ugh, I don't want to go to work today? Work can be less than pleasant at times, however there are many benefits to having a positive attitude at the office.

Choosing your attitude - positive or negative?

Your attitude is a form of expression of yourself. You can choose to be happy, positive and optimistic, or you can choose to be pessimistic and critical, with a negative outlook on your workday. A positive attitude helps you cope better under stressful situations at work.

Workplace attitudes have an effect on every person in the organisation, from the employees to the clients and even the company owner. Attitudes help to develop the prevailing workplace environment that determines employee morale, productivity and team building abilities.

A negative attitude in the workplace creates an atmosphere of distrust among employees and causes employees to attempt to achieve success at the expense of each other. On the other hand, in a workplace with a positive attitude, competition is seen as a motivator that inspires employees to perform at their best to improve productivity, and encourages creativity so they feel that their ideas will contribute to the success of the organisation.

What are the advantages and benefits of a positive attitude in the workplace?

There are many advantages of a positive attitude at work, and some of the advantages and benefits are:

Creates a positive environment

Helps to Achieve Goals and Career success

Stress reduction and management

Better health

Less sick days

Increases productivity levels

Produces more energy

Improves customer relations

Makes for better leadership skills

Improves teamwork

Improves decision-making

Overcomes Challenges

Improves motivation for yourself and others

Improves Interpersonal Relations

Improves the attitude of other employees

Increases self-esteem and confidence in yourself and others

Reduces the number of obstacles and difficulties you will encounter

If you want outstanding results, you need good people with great talent and awesome attitudes. When attitudes go up, so does the potential of the team. When attitudes go down, the potential of the team goes with it.

Don't sweat the small stuff

So when you hit that brick wall whilst trying to maintain a positive attitude, remember you are the one with the power. You can decide to live a positive life, see the good in any situation, and work to resolve conflict in a reasonable and stress-free way. So don't sweat the small stuff. Remember to keep your chin up, smile as much as you can, and remind yourself that life is only as good as you make it.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Benefits of a Positive Attitude in the Workplace - Quill Group

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Have you ever woken up and thought - Ugh, I don't want to go to work today? Work can be less than pleasant at times, however there are many benefits to having a positive attitude at the office. Your attitude is a form of expression of yourself.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Maintaining a positive attitude at work will benefit your career and steer you towards a promotion. 36 per cent of professionals polled on LinkedIn agree that a positive attitude is the most important quality that employers look for in candidates and team members.

However, maintaining a positive attitude on a daily basis in the workplace is harder than you may think. Work is stressful and challenging, and most professionals face deadlines and obstacles on a weekly (if not daily) basis. This is not an environment that fosters a positive attitude - you really have to work at it.

We've decided to not only tell you how you can convey your positive attitude at work to your colleagues and superiors, but also why it is important and how you will benefit from this attitude shift.
HOW 1. Use Positive Language 2. Never Criticize Anyone 3. Stay Away From Gossip 4. Put Teamwork First 5. Don't Complain WHY 1. Health Benefits 2. Become a Role Model 3. Infectious Positivity 4. Take the Lead Role 5. Be Next in Line for a Promotion Do you agree - is a positive attitude the most important quality that employers look for? Let us know what you think in our Resume Target LinkedIn Group.
No matter how long you've been with a company and how comfortable you may be around your colleagues, you should never use profanity. If it slips out in a high-stress situation we can let it slide, but you cannot swear on a regular basis. This is a professional environment, and the use of profanity immediately ignites a negative aura into its surroundings.

There is a difference between criticism and constructive feedback. Always use the method where you begin by complimenting the individual on something they've done well, and follow it up with a suggestion on how to improve their performance. Also, ensure to have this conversation in private. The individual will respect your feedback, and also respect the fact that you brought awareness to the situation in a professional manner.

Nothing eats away at a teamwork environment worse than gossip does. Whether team members are gossiping about colleagues or their personal problems, avoid the situation altogether. If you are caught in the conversation, act as a listener who does not provide any input. Maintaining a positive attitude at work means that you are a team player who provides all team members with respect. By refraining from joining a gossip circle, you can ensure that you maintain that level of respect.

When a team member has performed well, let them know. Offering pats on the back and compliments on a job well done are two simple and easy ways to foster a positive teamwork environment. In the same regard, when the team is faced with an obstacle, be sure to offer solutions and next steps rather than focusing on the negatives. Approach each obstacle with a "glass half full" mentality and you will create a positive outlook that will catch on to the rest of the team.

Every day is not a good day - but don't let everyone on the team know that. You may have been stuck in standstill traffic that morning, or experienced a 45-minute delay on your train ride, but you can't let those variables affect your work. If you are in a foul mood, ensure you walk it off before you get to the office. That way, instead of ranting to your colleagues about how terrible your morning was, you can poke fun at your bad luck and give everyone a chuckle. Laughing at your unfortunate circumstances will keep the work environment positive, where ranting will add negativity and diminish the upbeat working tone of the office.

A positive attitude is about more than just smiling at work. It literally benefits your overall health. Stress can deteriorate your health, especially when you experience it on a daily basis. These daily stresses start to wear down your health and your immune system. Put a stop to that before it starts by using our steps to ensure you face each workday positively.

People avoid negativity and they are drawn to positivity. Your positive attitude at work will allow your colleagues to feel comfortable coming to you with questions or for advice. You will quickly become a role model and an ally for many team members which will be viewed as an excellent quality by superiors.

Your positive attitude will rub off on your teammates. Nobody wants to be the grumpy and pessimistic team member when everyone else is so positive. You will set an example, become a role model (as stated in point #2), and eventually create a full team of professionals with positive attitudes. This will boost the effectiveness of the overall working environment and lead to successes for the company.

You've become a role model in the team, so naturally management will see that you have the leadership qualities to take on the next special project. The team members will respond well to your leadership and you will be given additional responsibilities to help you climb up the ladder in the office.

The same way that Hiring Managers look for a positive attitude in potential candidates to fulfill a role, Management will also look for a positive attitude in a team member that is ready for a promotion. Positivity in the workplace shows that you can encourage your team members to overcome obstacles and work cohesively to achieve the company's goals. As a team member with a positive attitude, you will have already demonstrated these traits to your superior and therefore will be favoured for a promotion.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
A Positive Attitude at Work can be the Key to your Success

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Maintaining a positive attitude at work will benefit your career and steer you towards a promotion. 36 per cent of professionals polled on LinkedIn agree that a positive attitude is the most important quality that employers look for in candidates and team members.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
You're almost there. Your resume landed you an interview and now it's time to seal the deal. So what's the best way to prepare?

To find the answer, I looked back on my interviews, sifted through research, and most importantly, asked employees from today's most coveted companies. I tried to find deep insights beyond the typical "sit up straight!" and "dress to impress!" tips we hear too much.

Below you'll find the 12 best tips to help before, during and after your interview.
1. Research Earnings Calls, Quarterly Reports & Blog Posts
In today's world, content is king. Goldman Sachs publishes quarterly reports, Microsoft records its earning calls, and every startup has a blog.

With so much out there, I'm baffled that few of us look past the company's homepage. It's like we're writing an essay on The Odyssey without quoting a single passage from the book.

Example: If you're interviewing with Google, here's two ways to answer: "What's Google's biggest opportunity in the next 5 years?"

Weak: "I think wearable technology will be big because Google Glass and Apple Watch represent a new trend that shows..."

Strong: "Call me geeky, but I was listening to Google's quarterly earnings call and was blown away by the fact that display advertising hit over $5 billion in the past few years. Therefore, I think that..."

Neither answer is wrong, but the latter says much more. It shows you've done your homework and give answers rooted in data.
2. Use Google Alerts
Keeping up with company news is hard, especially if you're interviewing with multiple places at once. That's why Google Alerts is a savior; it's a tool that emails you anytime a new story appears for a specific term. That way, you learn about current events without searching for them.

Example: If you're applying to Creative Artists Agency, follow these steps:

1. Go to www.google.com/alerts

2. Type in "Creative Artists Agency"

3. Put in your email address if you're not already logged in to Gmail

Soon enough, you'll get updates on CAA and have more ammo for your interview.
3. Use Social Sweepster To Clean Your Facebook & Twitter
Nowadays, 91% of employers search your social media for any red flags. While most people tell you to watch every single thing you upload, there's a much easier solution. Use Social Sweepster, an app that detects pictures of red solo cups, beer bottles, and other "suspicious" objects. It even detects profanity from your past posts! Now, that's f%$king awesome!

"Too many recruiters reject candidate because of something they found on their social platforms" Social Sweepster CEO Tom McGrath says. "We help you create the first impression on your own terms."
4. Schedule For Tuesday at 10:30 AM
According to Glassdoor, the best time to interview is 10:30 AM on Tuesday. Remember, your interviewer has a world of responsibilities beyond hiring. They're responding to emails, balancing projects, and meeting tons of other candidates so it's crucial to consider when they'll be in the best mental state to meet you.

10:30 AM Tuesday is the sweet spot because you:

Avoid the bookends. On Mondays and Fridays, employees gear up for the week or wind down. By the same token, avoid the first or last slots of any workday.

Avoid lunchtime. Immediately before noon, your interviewer may be too hungry to concentrate; immediately after, they may be in a food coma.

But there's a caveat. Research shows it's best to take the earliest interview slot "in circumstances under which decisions must be made quickly or without much deliberation because preferences are unconsciously and immediately guided to those options presented first."

Bottom line: if the firm is hiring for a job starting in a few months, try to interview late morning between Tuesday through Thursday. If the firm is hiring immediately, grab the earliest slot.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
You're almost there. Your resume landed you an interview and now it's time to seal the deal. So what's the best way to prepare? To find the answer, I looked back on my interviews, sifted through research, and most importantly, asked employees from today's most coveted companies. I tried to find [...]

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The phrase ' soft skills ' is often used by employers, particularly when they are bemoaning a shortage of suitable candidates for jobs.

You will almost certainly have heard big employers complaining that millennials, school leavers, university graduates, or perhaps simply 'young people' lack the 'soft skills' needed in 'today's workplace'. What exactly does this really mean, though?

A wide range of skills fall under the heading of ' soft skills '. They are also often known as 'transferable skills'. They include interpersonal skills, sometimes called 'people skills' or 'social skills', but go far beyond this area.

This page defines and explains the term 'soft skills', and then describes the soft skills that are usually considered most important by employers.

Defining Soft Skills

desirable qualities for certain forms of employment that do not depend on acquired knowledge: they include common sense, the ability to deal with people, and a positive flexible attitude.
Collins English Dictionary, Complete and Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition.
Soft skills is the term used for those skills that are not technical or job-related.

They include social skills, interpersonal skills, and a positive attitude. These are the skills that define your relationships with other people, or how you approach life and work.

' Hard skills ', by contrast, is a phrase usually used to describe job-specific skills.

Examples of hard skills include professional skills like bricklaying or accountancy, medical expertise such as diagnosis and treatment, or other skills that can be taught and whose presence is testable through exams.
Ironically, for many people, the so-called soft skills are often some of the hardest skills to develop. However, this does not mean that they cannot be learned or taught.
The Relative Importance of Hard and Soft Skills

Job-related expertise is essential in any profession and in many other careers. However, over the last twenty to thirty years, understanding has grown that perhaps the soft skills may ultimately be more important in determining levels of success.

Hard skills are therefore a basic minimum necessary to operate in that particular workplace.

Whether or not you are successful in your career may depend on how you relate to other people and to work: the so-called soft skills.

Principles of Competition

Think of soft skills in the light of competition principles.

Imagine you are a company producing something, let's say light bulbs. You come up with a revolutionary new technology. Your light bulbs are suddenly much better than others and your profits go up.

But, after a while, your competitors get hold of the technology: you license its use, perhaps, or they develop alternatives. Suddenly, light bulbs are all the same again and your profits are suffering. You still need the new technology, but you also need a new competitive edge: perhaps a reputation for customer service.

Hard skills are like your technology: anyone can acquire them, with training, and they are necessary. Without them you will not be able to operate in the workplace. Soft skills are your unique selling point and give you a competitive edge in the workplace, and perhaps even in life.

Many people have characterised soft skills as those relating to Emotional Intelligence, the ability to recognise and manage your own and others' emotions. However, in reality, they go beyond that, and into the wider realms of how you organise yourself and how you approach life.

The good news is that you can learn and develop soft skills as well as hard skills.

The bad news is that it is often much harder to do so, and there is no easy measure of success.

Like hard skills, soft skills require a lot of practice to make you really skilled at using them. Unlike hard skills, there are no exams to prove that you can do them. You measure your success in developing soft skills in how well you manage relationships with those around you. These include family, friends, and co-workers, as well as customers and those who provide you with goods or services.

What are the Most Important Soft Skills?

It is hard to say which soft skills are most important, because it will vary by situation.

However, this list is broadly what employers mean when they talk about 'good soft skills'. They are, therefore, the skills that are most likely to enable you to build constructive working relationships with others, or to be a constructive and helpful employee.

1. Communication Skills
Communication skills are almost always high on the 'essential skills' list in any job advertisement.
People with strong communication skills can build relationships (from the initial rapport-building through to a longer-term relationship). They can listen well and vary their communication to suit the circumstances. They avoid misunderstandings, and in general make any workplace work better.
If you spend time on nothing else, work on your communication skills.
2. Making Decisions

Being able to make decisions is valued by employers for many reasons, and also essential to getting on in life more generally.

We all have to make decisions every day, from what we have for breakfast, to more important decisions like whether to apply for a new job or when to get married. Sometimes the actual decision doesn't even matter; what matters is that you have made one and moved on.

Being able to make good decisions can also help with problem-solving, because it enables you to choose between possible solutions.

3. Self-Motivation

People who are self-motivated get on by themselves.

They do not need close supervision. They are good to work with because they are generally positive about life and can be counted upon to keep going, even when times are hard. Two skills that are closely linked to self-motivation are personal resilience, or the ability to bounce back when you encounter problems, and adaptability to change.

4. Leadership Skills

Leadership skills are the skills required to take the lead when necessary.

They include the ability to manage and motivate others, and to delegate work. These are the set of soft skills that we least expect someone to develop by themselves. Employers understand that it is hard to develop skills without being able to practise them every day. There is likely to come a point, however, when you may need to step up to a leadership position for the first time.

There are therefore many leadership training courses available and much has been written about how to develop your leadership skills. Our leadership skills pages describe many of the skills needed for effective leadership and how to develop your leadership style.

5. Team-Working Skills

Team-working skills are broadly those required to work effectively with other people.

They are, therefore, basically interpersonal skills. There is plenty of thinking to suggest that good communication skills, particularly good listening skills, together with an ability to build rapport will go a long way to support your ability to work well in a team.

There are, however, some specific skills and areas of expertise that may be helpful if you need to work closely with other people. It is, for example, useful to understand about Belbin's Team Roles, and the distinction between 'task'- and 'process'-focused skills.

6. Creativity and Problem Solving Skills

Like leadership skills, creativity and problem-solving skills are highly valued because they are hard to develop.

There are many people who believe that creative thinkers are born, not made. There are certainly some people who find these skills much easier. But, like other skills, you can develop them if you work to do so and our pages on these topics will give you some ideas about how to do this.

7. Time Management and ability to work under pressure

These two areas, put together, can be summed up as ability to get the job done in the time available. They are also sometimes described as having a 'good work ethic'.

Many would say that these two skills, which often go hand-in-hand, are more an attitude than a skill. The precise words you use, though, probably do not matter nearly as much as working on these areas. They are highly valued by employers, but are also very useful for organising a family or a team, and making sure that the job gets done at work or at home.

8. Positive attitude

Positive thinking is the idea that you can improve your life, and the lives of those around you, by taking a positive attitude.

This is not in the least 'fluffy'. Nobody can deny that it is pleasanter to work with someone who is enthusiastic, friendly, and has a can-do attitude. It is also quite depressing to work with someone who always sees the downside of everything. Employers look for people with a positive attitude because they help everyone to feel better about themselves. They also achieve more.

A Final Word

This list is of course not exhaustive. Just one glance round SkillsYouNeed will show you that there is a huge range of soft skills. Any given employer or individual may place more or less emphasis on these or others.

However, work to develop the skills in this list is likely to pay off in a job search, in any job or career on which you embark, and in life more generally.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The phrase ' soft skills ' is often used by employers, particularly when they are bemoaning a shortage of suitable candidates for jobs. You will almost certainly have heard big employers complaining that millennials, school leavers, university graduates, or perhaps simply 'young people' lack the 'soft skills' needed in 'today's workplace'.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
60 Hand Gestures You Should Be Using and Their Meaning

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Do you know how to speak with your hands? Check out our list of the 20 hand gestures you should be using in your next speech and find their meaning.

# data[].attributes.headline
Communication: Body Language - Hand Positions

# data[].attributes.subject
Communication: Body Language - Hand Positions

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Body language, the power is in the palm of your hands | Allan Pease | TEDxMacquarieUniversity

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Job Search Tips (Part 13): How to not get hired

# data[].attributes.body
Lesson 1

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Most of us feel that we are smart and capable to answer and handle difficult questions in a job interview. The problem only gets serious when we have to answer a difficult question in an unfamiliar circumstance, like a job interview. What should be our strategy to handle such a situation? In this Skillopedia video you would learn how to handle the most difficult questions asked in a job interview and enhance your Job interview skills. Firstly, you should try not to panic and be confident even if you don't know the answer to a particular question in a job interview. Secondly, continue watching this video in order to master the Job interview skills for handling difficult questions in a job interview.

Mostly, the problem is not with how you understands the question but many times it's about how a question is asked.

The interviewer often puts the questions in unclear words and the question appears as too broad to be answered. In such a scenario it's best to ask the interviewer for more clarity upon the question.

For example if you are asked a question like 'Where do you see this role heading in the next three years?' you would feel that the question is too broad and you may ask the interviewer to narrow it down to a more specific one.

You could reply with an answer like this, 'That's a great question, but I'm not sure where to start! Is there any way you could be a bit more specific with that question?' The interviewer may then reply with another question like 'How do you think the primary responsibilities will change for this job role in the next three years?'. This is an easier question to answer and all that you were required to do was to ask for clarification.

Use flexible terms for your advantage

We are often asked questions with words that could be used either for the interviewer's benefit or ours. These words help the interviewer be tricky with us. The good news is we could use such words to our benefits as well. For example, if the interviewer asks about a time you "failed" at work. You need not actually tell about one such time when you missed a deadline instead you could talk about a time you failed to maintain a work-life balance and worked overtime for a week harming your personal life while benefiting the company.

Your Attitude matters as much as your Answers

Most of the questions asked in an interview are to test your knowledge of the job profile. But some are also asked to see how well you fit the job role and this when your attitude counts.

If you appear nervous while answering a tricky question, that affects your overall impression. Even if you don't know the answer to a question, try to maintain your cool and confidence. It's natural to not know the answer to some questions. The interviewer does not expect you to know the answers to all the questions. He/ She might be trying to test how you respond to difficult situations.

For example, suppose you are asked how you would imagine yourself working with the Advertising Department as a salesperson in a new company. Though you may know nothing about working with the Advertisement department and you don't know what you would do in reality, but talking with confidence about how much you would like taking up challenges and newer opportunities to gain new experience in a different department, will win you some brownie points!

How to respond to personal questions?

Sometimes you could be asked an inappropriate or provocative question in an interview, for example: 'Are you thinking of taking time out the workplace to have children in the near-future?' It can be hard to know how to respond to such a question.

The best way to answer such a question is to react in a short, assertive manner ('No, I am not') and lead their attention towards another topic. For example, you could respond by saying - 'No, I am not, as I am dedicated to use my wide experience in this field to develop my skills in different areas.'

Practice control and pauses

In order to answer tricky questions we need to practice pauses and a controlled tone. The former means that we should take a second or two to answer a tricky question. This allows us a few seconds to recollect our thoughts and to appear confident. The latter means that we need to have a controlled tone so that we don't spear too nervous. At the same time, this means that we shouldn't sound too nervous or scared.

Even though this man not directly help you answer a tricky question but this will make you look more confident and the interviewer will tend to make an image of you as being in control and knowledgeable.

Sometimes you can choose to answer a question with a question.

If the interviewer asks you a question, you could also ask him a question back, but do this only if it's a really tricky question.

If you turn the tables on your questioner, it can encourage a discussion and sometimes even prevent them from expecting you to answer the original question.

Let's take a real life example, suppose your child asks you whether you and your spouse are getting divorced. This could be awkward or uncertain territory. How do you answer such a question? We mostly reply by answering a question with a question, such as, 'Why do you ask that?' can work well in this case.

But you can't ask this question to the interviewer, if he asks you a question that you are not comfortable to answer, you could politely say, "If I may ask, what your opinion on this matter is?"

Leave on a positive note

If you feel that any of your answer does not satisfy the interviewer, it's best to smile and end the conversation on a positive note. This would allow the interviewer to capture a positive image of your overall personality.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Smart Answers to Tricky Questions in a Job Interview.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Most of us feel that we are smart and capable to answer and handle difficult questions in a job interview. The problem only gets serious when we have to answer a difficult question in an unfamiliar circumstance, like a job interview. What should be our strategy to handle such a situation?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Another fabulous Skillopedia video from from the soft skills and communication skills series to learn tips and tricks to sound more confident while speaking and develop your communication skills. During the course of conversation, there are several tricks you can use to make your words or voice sound more authoritative or surer and to address your audience with greater overall confidence. Here are a few of them.

Speak more slowly

Some of us speak faster when we're nervous. Some of us are naturally fast talkers. Speaking too quickly can show a lack of confidence. While speaking quickly, you're more likely to make mistakes in your language or pronunciation. Focus on speaking more slowly and clearly. This will make it easier for the other person to understand what you are saying and make you appear from confident and sure.

Use effective pauses

Now you are already speaking clearly and slowly; also use pauses at various points in the conversation to create greater impact .Pausing for two or three seconds will add more weight to your previous sentence and help you make your point effectively .It gives you a chance to collect your thoughts in order to continue speaking further and makes you appear sure & confident.

Avoid irrelevant stories

Sometimes when we are nervous we talk too much. We end up telling stories or incidents that are unrelated to the conversation at hand; avoid doing this. Stick to the point, keep it short and simple. This will make you seem very cool and confident.

Use a deeper tone of voice

Try using a deeper more base tone of voice while speaking as it will give your voice more authority and confidence. As much as you can, practice speaking in a deeper tone of voice. Practice will make you sound natural and not forced. A deeper tone can make a real positive difference.

Maintain a confident posture

Whether you're sitting or standing at work, try to improve your posture. Stand or sit up straight with your shoulders back, and keep your head held high. This will make you more confident, and will help you feel more confident as well. Using the correct posture will also help you breathe better and hence you will be able to speak better

Use hand gestures effectively

Focus on using your hand gestures only for most impactful words or statements and try to keep your movements controlled .using too many hand gestures or just randomly waving your hands can make you appear confused and out of control.

Practice, practice & more practice.

There are always going to be those important conversations which will decide the direction of your work or career; which can make or break a deal. So it is wise to practice conversing regularly in order to become an expert. Standing in front of the mirror and practicing while looking into your own eyes is extremely useful in building confidence.

We hope this Skillopedia video from the soft skills and Communication skills series has helped you learn tips and tricks to sound more confident while speaking. Do not for get to subscribe to your channel- Skillopedia - The place to learn skills for the real world.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
07 tips & tricks to sound more confident while speaking.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Another fabulous Skillopedia video from from the soft skills and communication skills series to learn tips and tricks to sound more confident while speaking and develop your communication skills. During the course of conversation, there are several tricks you can use to make your words or voice sound more authoritative or surer and to address [...]

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
6 psychological tricks to make people like you immediately

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
6 Psychological TRICKS to Make People LIKE You IMMEDIATELY

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
✎ Check out these 6 awesome Psychological Tricks to Make People Like you Immediately! :) ★★★ SECRET BONUS VIDEO ★★★ What is the One Word that is most important to Tony Robbins, Gary Vaynerchuk, will.iam, Oprah Winfrey, and Howard Schultz?

# data[].attributes.body
This might be good for beginning

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Four Key Skills to Lead the Future | Michael Lai | TEDxYouth@ColumbiaHeights

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Top 4 "Soft Skills" Candidates Need Today

# data[].attributes.body
Teacher Stuff...to prepare lessons

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The AES Career & Technical Education Blog | Applied Educational Systems | Soft Skills

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Soft Skills | The latest ideas, tips, and trends for CTE and elective teachers.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
"Soft skills" is a term that has been appearing more and more in education in recent years. Such skills transform the future of all of us for the better. They are based on the best inside of us. In short, mastering these soft skills help us work, learn, and live better. We're going to spend some time discussing which ones are most useful (and necessary) for students journeying into the modern workforces after school.

What we've got is not a comprehensive all-or-nothing list by any means. But it is definitely a collection of some of the more valued and versatile and ones.

The Best Soft Skills for Students (and Everyone)

As you may expect, there are lots of definitions for them. One way to say it is that soft skills encompass non-curricular emotionally-based skills that are not generally measurable. They have more to do with how we connect with each other, and with the world around us. In many ways, they're also about building relationships.

With this in mind, let's look at the top "softies" that are pretty much indispensable for every student.

1. Creativity

It's no surprise that creativity factors into the list. It's not just a valuable learning pursuit; it's vital to success in school and in the workplace. It's why Creativity Fluency is used in thousands of schools all over the world.

Why Creativity Matters: The global marketplace is more competitive than ever. Innovative products thrive on an organization's ability to design and present them in an aesthetically pleasing way. Creative thinking and application grabs consumers' attention and secures their loyalty. Ultimately, creativity is a common language between all of us. We can all learn to communicate our passions and ideas with it.

2. Problem Solving

As far as soft skills go, this one is probably the most important. The ability to solve real-world problems using a guided process like Solution Fluency is crucial to surviving and thriving in the present and the future.

Why Problem Solving Matters: The world is changing, and will keep on changing dramatically. Our children will be solving future problems that we can't even imagine yet. They'll face challenges that require skills to define a problem, design an appropriate solution, and put it to effective use. Problem-solving skills will help them tackle anything from writing a shopping list to designing and realizing their biggest dreams.

3. Critical Thinking

The ability to think critically is a must for future success in a changing world. It's about thinking independently, responsibly, and productively. One of the best definitions of critical thinking can be found here.

Why Critical Thinking Matters: The way we think about the world, ourselves, and each other affects more than just personal experience. It has a part in defining the future of everything and everyone and the entire world. It's called the "Ripple Effect." It's been a part of many cultural philosophies for thousands of years. It reminds us that how we choose to think and act influences our whole world. We don't have to be overwhelmed by this-just simply aware of it. We can let this idea guide us in our critical thinking practices.

4. Leadership

Leadership is a soft skill that can change people's lives in positive ways. One who leads isn't just one who manages things. What a leader does is inspire, motivate, and empower. It's about seeing the best in people and showing them how they can use it to be proactive in all they do.

Why Leadership Matters: Natural leaders are an asset in any classroom and on every workforce. Anyone whose attitude moves from "I can do it" to "we can do it" makes everybody better. It's the right kind of independence and willingness to take responsibility for making good things happen, not just simply getting things done. Leaders see more, do more, and learn more than they would if they were simply delegators or managers.

5. Communication

In the digital age, communication has transformed beyond face-to-face interaction. We communicate using technology more than ever. Even so, whatever medium we choose to connect with, there are skills we can acquire to help us communicate more effectively.

Why Communication Matters: In school, we work in groups to produce solutions to the challenges and problems we face. In the workplace, we do the exact same thing. The only way this can be done effectively is with good communication. Having communication skills means less stress, more productivity, and better relationship-building practices.

6. Collaboration

This means being able to work in groups that are both physical and virtual. It includes proficiency in communication, empathy, and leadership values. It means being able to work with someone across the world just as easily and productively as someone across the room. This is why Collaboration Fluency is one of the Essential Fluencies being taught in classrooms all over the globe.

Why Collaboration Matters: Working in groups is a hallmark of the digital age. Our classrooms and businesses incorporate teamwork into their daily practices. Collaborative abilities have a permanent place among the soft skills all students can benefit from having.

7. Information Management

According to VCloud News, approximately 2.5 quintillion bytes of data are created online every single day. This statistic is only bound to get higher as time goes on. Information is essentially all things on the Internet. There is so much out there that a skill set is needed to decipher much of it and make it useful. This is what Information Fluency teaches us.

Why Information Management Matters: Dealing with information means we can determine what is valuable, and discard what is spurious or questionable. This is important for producing solutions and products that are genuine and useful. It's also an aspect of research and proper attribution of sources, things every good digital citizen needs to know.

8. Adaptability

As mentioned earlier, the world is changing. However, it's not just the world we need to keep an eye on. We need to be just as flexible in our personal lives as well. Life is fluid-sometimes it's a stream, sometimes a river, and sometimes a tidal wave. Learn to keep your head above all of it.

Why Adaptability Matters: We deal with trends of every kind constantly. Business, technology, entertainment, communication, and lifestyle trends are just some of the many. What makes it more challenging is that each major trend can often have several sub-trends of its own. Keeping abreast of these means staying informed and knowing when to take advantage of opportunities. As for life itself, it will always have challenges, no matter how well things are going. Being able to adapt to change in all its forms keeps us constantly prepared to survive and succeed no matter what climate we're in.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The 8 Most Important Soft Skills Every Graduating Student Needs and Why

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
"Soft skills" is a term that has been appearing more and more in education in recent years. Such skills transform the future of all of us for the better. They are based on the best inside of us. In short, mastering these soft skills help us work, learn, and live better.

# data[].attributes.headline
Classroom Activities to teach Soft Skills

# data[].attributes.subject
Classroom Activities to teach Soft Skills

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
When it's time for students to start working and/or head to college, they'll need "soft skills," otherwise known as career-readiness or job-readiness skills, in addition to academic knowledge and vocational skills.

Soft skills are those characteristics that help you function as an individual (motivation, self-confidence, flexibility) as well as within a group (teamwork, negotiation, respect). To succeed in the workplace, these job-readiness skills are key! After all, if you can't show up on time, speak up for yourself, or get along with your peers, chances are you're not going to have a very smooth go of it.

Explicitly teaching students these job-readiness skills is the best way to give them valuable insight into their strengths and weaknesses. We've rounded up 30 engaging lessons and activities that are not only just right for teaching the job-readiness skills students need, they are also a lot of fun!

1. Listen and recap

There are so many things competing for kids' attention in today's overstimulating world, so learning the simple art of listening can be a difficult task. This one-on-one communication activity will help students practice taking the time to clear their minds, focus, and really listen to what their partner is saying in a way that they can clearly and accurately repeat.

Divide students into pairs. Partner one draws a topic card from a prepared deck and talks about that topic while partner two listens without speaking. The listener must really focus on simply receiving their partner's words-not letting their mind wander or think about how they are going to respond. Then, without a rebuttal, partner two recaps what partner one said. Then, they switch roles.

Skills they'll practice:

Listening, respect, interpersonal skills, communication

Buy it: Letz Talk Conversation Cards at Amazon

2. Make a game of it

Responsibility isn't something students develop overnight. It takes lots of practice to show self-control when things don't go our way, to be accountable for our decisions, to finish what we start, and to keep trying even when we want to give up. Try these five super-fun games (below) that teach responsibility.

Skills they'll practice:

Responsibility, flexibility, patience

Learn more: 5 Great Games for Teaching Your Students About Responsibility

3. Serve others

Service-learning projects not only get kids involved in their communities, they help them develop many valuable job-readiness skills that will help them on the job one day. Team students up to organize a book or food drive, recruit bilingual students to provide translation services, or encourage budding artists to collaborate on a community art event.

Skills they'll practice:

Teamwork, respect, time management, responsibility

Learn more: 25+ Meaningful Service Learning Projects for Kids and Teens

4. Cultivate critical thinking

Critical thinking is the ability to examine a subject and develop an informed opinion about it. It's about asking questions, then looking closely at the answers to form conclusions that are backed by provable facts, not just "gut feelings" and opinion. And it's definitely on the top of most employers' wish lists for new employees. Click the link below for 10 fun and engaging classroom activities that'll get your students' gears turning.

Skills they'll practice:

Critical thinking, problem-solving, flexibility, self-confidence

Learn more: 5 Critical Thinking Skills Every Kid Needs to Learn and How To Teach Them

5. Human Marble Run

Working together to meet a goal takes patience and focus. This IRL version of Marble Run will help your students learn job-readiness skills like working together, and they'll have fun doing it!

Give each member of the team a length of gutter or drainpipe. The team has to transfer a tennis ball or golf ball from one place to another by rolling the ball from one piece of gutter to the next. Make it interesting by making the team get the ball to traverse an obstacle course or to go up and down stairs.

Skills they'll practice:

Patience, negotiation, teamwork, communication

6. No-hands cup-stacking challenge

This hands-on group challenge is an exercise in learning job-readiness skills like patience and perseverance, not to mention it's a total blast!

Decide how many students you want in each group, and tie that number of strings to a single rubber band. Each person in the group holds on to one of the strings attached to the rubber band. As a group, they use this device to pick up the cups (by pulling the rubber band apart and then bringing it back together over the cups) and place them on top of one another in order to build a pyramid.

Skills they'll practice:

Critical thinking and problem-solving skills, teamwork, patience

Learn more: Cup Stack from Ms. Sepp's Counselor Corner

7. Paper bag skits

You never know what life is going to hand to you. This is true at work, school, and in life in general. Sometimes you're handed a set of circumstances and have very little time to figure out what to do. This fun activity will help teens practice thinking on their feet.

Fill a few paper bags with four or five assorted classroom or household items. Break the teens into groups, and assign each group a bag without showing them what's inside. Give them two minutes to examine the items in their bag and come up with a skit, using all of the items, for the rest of the class.

Skills they'll practice:

Time management, teamwork, flexibility, presentation skills

8. Nurture self-knowledge

Journaling is a powerful tool for creative expression and reflection, but did you know that it can also be an effective way to improve mental health? Recording your thoughts and feelings can be a cathartic form of stress relief, an opportunity to get to know yourself better, and a way to help you feel more grounded and authentic in your beliefs. Try these free writing prompt cards with your middle and high schoolers to help them get started.

Skills they'll practice:

Stress management, self-confidence, motivation

Learn more: Deep Writing Journal Prompts for Teens from Journal Buddies

9. Foster self-motivation

Self-motivation is one of the key indicators of success in the future. Conversely, lack of motivation leads to big problems not in only school but on the job later on. But how do we teach something that comes from inside? Check out the activities below for some great tips like breaking big dreams into smaller pieces, envisioning a bright future, encouraging students to share their stories, and more.

Skills they'll practice:

Work ethic, critical thinking, self-confidence

Learn more: How To Instill Intrinsic Motivation from 7Mindsets

10. Hold a poetry slam

Slam poetry is a unique performance art that will not only give your students the opportunity to express their thoughts, but build their confidence as well. Slam poems are specifically written to be performed in front of an audience, and topics are often diverse, political, and thought-provoking. Finding your voice and being able to move people with your words are job-readiness skills that can apply to any future endeavor.

Skills they'll practice:

Self-confidence, presentation skills, teamwork

Learn more: What Is Slam Poetry and How Can Teachers Use It With Students?

11. Team survival challenge

What would happen if your class went out on a pleasure cruise only to end up being lost at sea? Who would take charge? What materials would be essential for survival? If you ever saw an episode of the TV series Lost, you know that making these decisions as a group can get ugly fast. This activity is a great lesson in group decision-making, as students will undoubtedly have different ideas about what materials to add to a limited list in a limited amount of time.

Skills they'll practice:

Critical thinking, negotiation, communication, teamwork

Learn more: Lost at Sea from Grahame Knox

12. Start a school garden

A school garden is an amazing, hands-on way to help teach students about responsibility. From planning what to grow and organizing the supplies needed to creating a maintenance schedule and actually getting down and dirty in the garden, it's a project that requires hard work and perseverance.

Skills they'll practice:

Responsibility, teamwork, problem-solving, patience

Learn more: How One School Garden Transformed a Neighborhood

13. Time-management challenge

We all have days when our list of tasks is huge, and the amount of time we have to complete them just isn't. When time is tight, and your agenda is packed, you've got to prioritize tasks and work efficiently! This activity gives students the opportunity to practice just that by presenting them with a long list of tasks to complete in a limited time frame.

Make a list of tasks on chart paper, assigning a point value for each job. For example: Do 25 jumping jacks (5 points); make up a nickname for each member of the group (5 points); get every person in the class to sign a piece of paper (15 points); form a conga line and conga from one end of the room to the other (5 points, 10 bonus points if anyone joins you); etc. Make sure you list enough tasks to take up more than 10 minutes.

Divide your students into groups of five or six and give them 10 minutes to collect as many points as they can by deciding which tasks to perform. A debriefing session is essential with this game. Guide your students to think about how they made decisions, which group dynamics came into play, and how they determined the value of each task.

Skills they'll practice:

Negotiation, critical thinking, communication, time management

14. Vision boards

Unleash your students' creativity while at the same time helping them set goals for the future with a vision board. We don't frequently take the time to express who we are and what we hope for. Setting aside time to contemplate can motivate teens to think deeply about what they really want in life and also fuel their desire to do what's necessary in order to reach their dreams.

Skills they'll practice:

Self-confidence, motivation, critical thinking

Learn more: Why Teachers Should Create Vision Boards With Their Students from Study All Knight

Image credit: Fatima Vieira

15. Collaborative contract

This exercise for middle schoolers helps them establish values-based ground rules for a team. Each student takes an index card and lists three values that they believe will promote a sense of community. Team members discuss the values, consolidating them into more precise categories. They write the finalized list on a poster board, with each student signing it. Whenever there is a dispute, the team should refer to the "contract," which holds everyone accountable.

The purpose of this exercise is to create a safe space to explore ideas by focusing on common language and shared expectations. Additionally, this activity prepares middle-school students for the workplace by emphasizing similarities rather than differences.

Skills they'll practice:

Negotiation, communication, listening, respect

16. Zombie apocalypse

In this two-day lesson, students are required to identify soft skills, literary guides, and everyday objects that will help them survive a zombie apocalypse. They'll work both cooperatively and independently, and produce short pieces of persuasive writing to argue in favor of their survival.

Skills they'll practice:

Teamwork, interpersonal skills (collaboration), problem-solving

Learn more: Zombie Invasion Plan from Sarah Andrasik

Image source: Dallas Museum of Art

17. Stoke their competitive fire

According to teacher Christine Weis, there's nothing like a little healthy competition in the classroom. "It motivates students and drives them to put forth their best effort," she says. "It sparks interest, passion, and ignites a fire within." Not only can healthy competition build confidence, it can encourage students to learn something new and develop new skills. Try games, puzzles, sports, quiz competitions, team presentations, etc., to motivate your students to reach a higher level.

Skills they'll practice:

Motivation, work ethic, problem-solving, self-confidence

Learn more: 7 Motivational Activities for Students from The Homeschool Resource Room

18. The blindfold game

Teens leading one another around in blindfolds? Are we sure this is a good idea? The answer is yes when it's part of a structured, purposeful job-readiness skills activity like this one!

You'll need a large space for this activity (maybe the cafeteria after lunch or the gym during an off-period), enough blindfolds for half of the participants, and furniture and other items that you can use as obstacles (cardboard boxes, pillows, chairs, tables). Scatter furniture and objects around the room before the activity begins. Your course should be challenging but safe to navigate.

Pair students and have them line up at one end of the room. One person from each pair should put on the blindfold. The sighted person must guide their partner across the room and give them clear oral instructions (without touching them) to help them avoid the obstacles. When each team reaches the far side of the room, partners can switch roles and repeat the exercise. Have just a few pairs tackle the course at a time so that the others can observe. Take some time between rounds to process what went well, what didn't, and what could make the challenge easier.

Skills they'll practice:

Communication, listening, respect (taking the task and their partner's safety seriously), flexibility

19. Take a mini crash course

Our teens may almost look like adults, but we have to remember they still have a lot to learn. And sometimes the best way to teach them what they need to know is to just spell it out. This video is a no-nonsense tutorial about some of the job-readiness skills that employers find valuable. Hold a screening, then after the video, have students form breakout groups to talk about what portion of the video they found most helpful and what they need to work on.

Skills they'll practice:

Communication, listening, critical thinking

20. Human knot

Nothing promotes job-readiness skills such as cooperation like getting all tangled up with your classmates - literally!

Players stand in a circle and reach out to shake hands with other players, with each hand holding that of a different person, creating a "human knot." Then the players have to figure out how to untangle their bodies without letting go of each other's hands. This activity lends itself to a vibrant debriefing session as students observe their communication and cooperation skills.

Skills they'll practice:

Teamwork, communication, problem-solving

Learn more: The Human Knot Game from Icebreaker Ideas

21. Mind your mental health

Managing stress in school (and on the job) is a timely subject. With mental health issues on the rise across the country, it's critical to teach your students strategies that will help them stay grounded and build resilience. After all, it's hard to do your best in any endeavor when you're stressed to the max. Try the empowering activities below to teach students how to manage stress so students can succeed in college, on the job, and in the future.

Skills they'll practice:

Self-confidence, problem-solving, leadership

Learn more: 22 Empowering Mental Health Activities for Teens

22. Rope Circle Shimmy

Divide the teens into two groups. Each group should have a minimum of five members. To begin play, make a big circle out of rope for each team and put it on the floor. Each member of the team stands at the edges of the circle, so the rope is taut around their ankles, while holding their hands in the air.

Team members must take turns moving to work the rope up from ankles to wrists, keeping hands in the air at all times. The team member will have to wiggle and move to slide the rope up. Other team members can help by keeping the rope as taut as possible. The team that finishes the challenge first wins!

Skills they'll practice:

Communication, flexibility, interpersonal skills (cooperation)

Learn more: Looped to Rope from Mom Junction

23. Four-card negotiation

Sometimes to get ahead in life, you have to know how to wheel and deal. This is entirely what this lesson is all about. The objective is for teams to trade and barter for pieces of cards to match up with the pieces they already have and ultimately end up with four complete playing cards.

Start with a pile of playing cards (four cards per team of four or five students). Cut each card diagonally into four pieces and mix all of the pieces together. Now divide the mixed-up pieces evenly among the teams. Give teams a couple of minutes to sort out their card pieces and figure out which pieces they have and which pieces are missing. Set a timer for 10 minutes. The goal of the game is for the students to use their negotiation skills with the other teams in order to gain as many complete cards as possible for their team. At the end of 10 minutes, the team with the most cards wins.

Skills they'll practice:

Negotiation, communication, interpersonal skills

24. Pair up with younger kids

Nothing helps teens build responsibility like pairing up with a younger buddy. Being the more mature, more experienced partner in the relationship gives teens the opportunity to share what they know and learn to be a leader. Have your students plan fun activities and special events with their buddies.

Skills they'll practice:

Responsibility, leadership, problem-solving, listening, patience

Learn more: 20 Activities for Big Buddy/Little Buddy Time from Create, Dream, Explore

25. Blind spelling practice

Weaving soft-skills activities into everyday curriculum is a win for everyone. Enhance your students' interpersonal skills with this fun spelling activity. Tape letters to each student's back. Then call out a definition of a word. Students will need to work together to assemble in the right order to spell the word correctly.

Learn more: Manuel Antonio Noronha

Skills they'll practice:

Communication, listening, negotiation, problem-solving

26. Practice small talk

Teenagers aren't exactly known for their chitchat skills. In fact, for many it is one of the most awkward situations they can imagine being put in. But small talk is considered a foundational job-readiness skill that is important for almost every job, as well as learning to network. Many teens feel awkward speaking with people they're not used to speaking to and need practice, especially with adults. Try some free conversation starters that will help them practice the "three P's" of small talk: being polite, positive, and professional.

Skills they'll practice:

Communication, listening, self-confidence, patience, respect

Learn more: Conversation Starters on the Job from Realityworks

27. Blind drawing

Try this hilarious activity with your teens. It kind of like "telephone" but instead of listening, each person must pay close attention to what is being drawn on their back. Each student in the line gets a blank sheet of paper taped to their back and a marker. The student at the end begins by slowly drawing an image on the person's paper in front of him. When that person feels what's being drawn, they try to re-create what they're feeling on the person of front of them. When the image is complete, have the students take off their papers and compare the results. This activity is a colorful reminder that people often perceive things very differently, so communication is extremely important!

Skills they'll practice:

Communication, teamwork, patience

28. Mock interviews

The prospect of going on a job interview can be terrifying to a kid who's never had a job before. Practicing job-readiness skills like interviewing can help them reduce the fear factor and build their confidence. Pair students up and assign one the role of interviewer and one the role of interviewee. Use a set of job interview questions to practice with.

Give each pair 15 minutes, then have them talk about how the interview went. The interviewer may have some valuable insight for the interviewee. Then have the partners switch roles and repeat. After they've had practice with their peers, invite a few adults into the room to conduct mock interviews.

Skills they'll practice:

Interview skills, critical thinking, self-confidence

Learn more: Job Interview Questions for Teens from Understood.org

29. Group storytelling

Create small groups of three to eight students. The first person makes up and says out loud the first line of a story. The second person says, "Yes, and ...," continuing the story. Play continues around the group until everyone has contributed or until the story has come to a satisfactory end. Since students don't know what's coming, they have to learn how to listen carefully and react and communicate well on the fly. As an alternative, to have students listen even more carefully, have them continue the story with the phrase, "because ..."

Skills they'll practice:

Communication, listening, critical thinking, presentation skills

30. Team pen

Sometimes it takes the whole team to produce results. This fun game involves a marker with four to six strings tied to it and a blank piece of paper. The teacher calls out a word and the team has to work together to legibly print the word on the paper. Students will have to think carefully and cooperate with one another to maneuver the pen correctly to write the word.

Skills they'll practice:

Communication, teamwork, patience, critical thinking

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
30 Awesome Classroom Activities That Teach Job-Readiness Skills

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Need ideas to help your students learn job-readiness skills help them succeed in life after school? These soft skills activities will help!

# data[].attributes.headline
Soft Skills Curriculum: The What, Why, and Where

# data[].attributes.subject
Soft Skills Curriculum: The What, Why, and Where

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Soft Skills Curriculum: The What, Why, and Where

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
It seems that schools are really trying harder to emphasize soft skills curriculum in their CTE courses as of late. And it's no wonder.