Month: June 2016

Attitude Negotiation

Changing my attitude creates self-wins.  Sometimes I believe that I need to negotiate better conditions at work.  A good place to start those negotiations is with that voice between my ears.

When I am in a bad mood, I see the negatives in other people and in my circumstances more easily.  When I am in a good mood, I see positives.

Choosing Gratitude

On the other hand, gratitude is a choice.  It is a mental tool for negotiating with negative thoughts.  It is a mental tool for negotiating for even better thoughts when my mood is good.  It is a tool for negotiating with my default mode thinking whether that thinking is good or bad.

The exciting idea of a new job or falling in love, spontaneous expectations of happiness.  We don’t just picture the relief and joy of leaving our current situation.  We can fall in love with just the idea that a new job will be wonderful.  “Oh, please, please, God.  Give me that new job and I will never ask for anything again.”

At the same time, we can recognize that falling in love repeatedly can bring us joy.  However, it can ruin our lives.  As we move from one relationship to another, we sacrifice the support and security of a long-term relationship.

What is the point?  Happiness in long-term situations is about making choices and commitments.  We make choices and commitments on staying in our jobs.

Practicing gratitude is one of those choices.

In addition, we make choices and commitments as to how we feel about our job and our lives.

When our default mode thinking tells us our situation is bad, we can choose how to deal with those thoughts.  We can act on them.  We can sit there and stew in them.  As a third choice, we can focus on the positives of our situation.  We can practice gratitude.

Wrongful Termination

Wrongful termination is a legal issue. I read questions on Internet forums every day.  Often these questions are about handling termination situations.  A company fires a person.  The person goes on the Internet to get advice on suing the company that fired them.

The people responding with advice give their qualifications. They state that they are people with so many years of experience in management. They state that they have so many years of experience in human resources.

I am not a lawyer (IANAL). However, pursuing a settlement in the courts for wrongful termination is a legal matter and is often a complex legal matter.  You may want to research the costs and commitments of working with an attorney.

Additionally, before you threaten to sue your employer, I recommend that you get legal advice from an attorney.

No One Law for Wrongful Termination

There is no single law for termination.  The federal law has restraints for termination.  For example, under federal law, a company cannot fire you based on religion, race, nationality, or age.

In one case, I witnessed a major lawsuit in which one of my clients fired hundreds of employees.  Many of these employees were over forty.  The employees sued the company.  I do not know the bases for the lawsuit.  However, the company had to rehire every one of these employees.  Then the company offered a severance agreement to these employees.  In the end, the employees had the option to accept the agreement and leave the company or to stay at the company.

A second condition, employment laws vary from state to state.  In some states, companies can require employees to agree not to go to work for a competitor.  These contracts usually limit the agreement for a certain amount of time after leaving a company.  Some states do not allow companies to impose that restriction on employees.  Before signing that type of agreement, research the legality of that agreement in terms of the contract and in terms of your location.

Furthermore, employment agreements vary from company to company.  In terminating someone, a company cannot terminate someone on terms that violate the agreement in the employment contract.

In conclusion, I do not recommend that you act solely on the advice from an Internet forum.  I especially recommend that you take careful steps in cases of wrongful termination.  You have rights.  Your employer has rights. Act intelligently in protecting your rights.

Successful Telephone Meetings

In a virtual world, the skills for successful telephone meetings are as important as the skills for face-to-face meetings.  Before a telephone meeting, prepare as though you will be sitting in a room with other people.  Your goal is to learn and contribute as much as possible as quickly as possible.  Even if you are uncertain of the value of the meeting, don’t let you lack a preparation make the meeting a waste of your time.

Have these things on your desk:

• The meeting agenda
• A list of key points you wish to make
• A list of questions

Select your phone location carefully.

• Pick a quiet room.
• Have a glass of water immediately handy.
• Pick a comfortable chair.

Even though you are on the phone, let your personality shine.

• Smile.  You will project warmth even though the interview cannot see you.
• Speak with confidence and enthusiasm.  To quote career expert Jacquelyn Smith, “Speak with impact.”
• Remember to take a quiet deep breath from time to time.
• Say positive things about yourself, your ideas, and the other people in the meeting.

Focus on the meeting.

• Allow the other people a chance to speak.
• Ask for input on your ideas.  You can know whether you are gaining acceptance of your ideas.  You can clear up any confusion.
• Stick to the subject.  Steer the conversation back to the topic when people wander from the purpose of the meeting.
• Listen to everyone’s questions.  Do not just give a reply to the questions.  Answer the questions that people actually ask.

Do not allow outside interruptions.

• If you get another call, ignore it.
• Make sure that people know not to disturb you.
• Certainly do not multi-task.
• Do not talk over the other people.
• Do not try to tell a joke.
• Do not fake your answers. If you do not know that answer to a random question, just say so.

Remember to close on an upbeat note. 

Thank the other people in the meeting for taking time to speak with you.  Emphasize that you hope to have a chance to speak again.