Legal Education and Training

Legal Education and TrainingLegal Education and Training

What to say when youre confused about what your manager wants

What to say when youre confused about what your manager wantsWhat to say when youre confused about what your manager wantsIt can be demoralizing when you are unsure what your manager wants from you.Your hard work can end up missing the mark, and it leaves you feeling like the goal posts were moved and your time was wasted. While its your managers responsibility to platzset clear targets, you can help them help you.First, put yourself in your managers shoesWhile its a managers responsibility to set the agenda, its also not easy to communicate clearly in every situation - big teams, complex projects, and a fast pace can get in the way. I know this from my own experience leading research for Business Insider Intelligence, where I manage over 20 analysts and editors - my directions are unclear more often than Id like to admit.Even the very best managers are unclear on occasion. Understanding that your managers job is difficult will help you diffuse negative emotions and focus on findin g a solution to the problem.Ask, What does success look like for this project?This is a really powerful question because its not about how to do your job, but it is about the desired results. In an ideal relationship, your manager sets up the goal posts and you kick the ball in the net.Asking your manager to define success focuses on what they want instead of how to get there. For example, if you ask your manager to define success for launching a new product, they might define revenue targets, the budget, the timeline, and who needs to be involved.Then ask, What are the most important indicators of success?The criteria for success arent always equally important and it will be helpful to figure out what your manager cares about most. Asking your manager to prioritize indicators of success is a smooth way to get information about where you should focus your energy.Its also a way to avoid asking why you are being asked to do a project, which risks coming off skeptical of the goal or ig norant of its importance. For example, if your manager says that the stakeholders involved are the most important part of the project, the goal might be relationship-building to open up a new opportunity, as opposed to generating as much revenue as possible.Help your manager define successIf your manager is unclear about what success looks like, they probably havent thought about it enough - and thats an opportunity for you to demonstrate next-level potential. Help your manager get to a place where they can define success.The best way to do this is to break the project into smaller pieces where success can be defined clearly. For example, you might suggest that you come up with a plan for a new a product launch that will involve a particular stakeholder and youll have it ready for further discussion by the end of the week.Send a follow-up email of the plan and the indicators of successAfter youve done the work to get on the same page as your manager, its worth doing a little more w ork to ensure you stay on the same page. Writing a follow-up email will help you think through if there is anything else you need to ask about to be successful and it will give your manager an opportunity to add additional info that may not have come up in the conversation. It also a good reference for evaluating the success of the project.John Heggestuen is the Vice President of Research for Business Insider Intelligence, Business Insiders premium market research service covering digital transformation. He manages a team of over 20 analysts and editors in New York and London.

How References Can Derail Your Career

How References Can Derail Your CareerHow References Can Derail Your CareerHelp your references help you.Reference checks can confirm or deny the value of a job seeker to a potential employer. They can be the difference maker in employment. When it comes to references, do sweat the small stuff.For a real-life illustration of a references importance, consider alexanderplatzs exampleAlex Partain thought his resume and interviews went well with a Fortune 100 technology company. Even in a recession, he blew past most of his friends and secured seven interviews, including final-stage interviews at five companies. Information security positions pay well over $100,000, and with a solid background in the very latest in information security, why shouldnt the offers flow? But what happened next left Alex in the lurch, confused and looking for answers.I honestly could notlage believe it, Alex says now. I got a serious wake-up call about references. It probably cost me thousands upon thousands of dollars in terms of months lost. I lost out on every single interview I had secured in a mere month. It welchesnt until a third-party recruiter ferreted out the facts about my references that I found out what welches going on. What was happening was basically my own hand-picked references were not prepared properly, did not give me glowing reviews and hurt me. But all in all, it was more my fault then theirs. I did not prepare them or myself.The North Carolina-based executive job seeker found out some ugly truths about references.Here is what happened. He gave his two weeks notice, but left his company two weeks before one of the companys most important engagements. He provided his references the proper notice they needed to prepare a quick, positive paragraph on company letterhead and write a sentence or two on LinkedIn. But that wasnt all. Mr. Partain left his current company with a bit of a cloud over his head. I left them a little short on a key project. That left my key refere nces a bit angry.After Mr. Partain hired an employment-law attorney who checks references, he found out three cold, hard and interview-busting facts about his referencesFact No. 1 Unprepared references can unknowingly discredit your work on projects.His first and key reference talked glowingly about his work but then undercut him by challenging his work on a key project. My own CIO at my company actually disputed two facts on my resume When one of the reference checkers called, he found out that I had given him an old version of a resume, said Alex.He really did not know that I handled the fix of a very large financial institution in the way I did. So he said that I had not participated in the project. He suggested that and it ended up looking like I lied on my resume without saying explicitly that I lied. To my own discredit, I never gave him a copy of my new resume, and because I was in such a rush to bail out of the company, I just did not communicate what I actually had done i n the last part of my tenure.Lesson Do not assume anything.Closely coach and counsel your references to ensure you both agree on what will be said if someone calls. Get agreement on key achievements and resume points. Make sure you take time to copy the reference on your latest resume.Fact No. 2 The impression a reference leaves will be reflected upon you.The third-listed reference was just totally lukewarm, monotone and even said, I have no comment a few times during the reference checkers interview with him. Though in person the reference was like a comedian with really dark humor, a funny and fun guy he was a total dud as a reference.Then he told a bad joke about Alex and said, I can tell you he didnt kill anyone while he was here, and that was it.Some references never even returned the employers call when Alex listed home and work numbers instead of cell phone numbers. One telephone number the reference checker called went to the desk of another senior manager on the West Coas t, who had essentially lost out on a promotion to Alex seven years earlier. The guy said, You dont want to know what I think. I could tell some things off the record. But upon follow-up he said, No comment, and reluctantly gave up the number to the correct employee.Lesson Obtain written references and contact information. As a foundation to your overall reference plan, get written references. As an option, you can offer to write the recommendation as long as they agree with the information and essentially sign off on the reference letter. By doing this, you have a proactive way to combat a reference who is less than prepared, distracted or unenthusiastic on the phone.Remember to get permission from your former human resources department to provide you with your employment evaluations. In fact, you can and probably should find out exactly what your current and former employers reference policy is. Written information can be a powerful testimonial and may negate more lengthy phone c alls to your current references.Also, ask your reference how she would like to be contacted at home, by cell or by e-mail.Incorrect phone numbers will waste time and hurt your credibility. Even with a correct phone number, if a reference calls and does not respond quickly it can hurt you. It shows she may not care enough to respond quickly or give you high marks. Silence can be deadly here.Fact No. 3 If its a legal issue, investigate legal avenues. Frustrated, Mr. Partain sought the advice of several attorneys, but nothing that was said about him was essentially false or malicious. He didnt have grounds for a lawsuit or the time or money to pursue one. Instead he corrected his own mistakes and actions. I am not going to even say that hiring an employment-law attorney is right or wrong or hiring a reference-checking service is the way to go. I do know I should not have been so hasty in drawing up my references. And I shouldnt have assumed that my references would do what I wanted th em to do.What can you do if you feel your references are derailing your career options?Lesson Use preventive medicine.If you truly feel that your background and job search is being compromised by knowingly misleading, malicious or false information, then you may want to hire an attorney or consider legal action. First choice is always to contact your former employer and reference and try to resolve any bad blood or issues upfront, before you abflug your interview processes. Consider all your options but start with preventive reference medicine first prepping references with current resumes and getting written references and contact information.Aggressive lawyer letters may silence your references completely and shave important time off your job search. A lawsuit could tie up lots of time and resources you may not have during an earnest job search. And what if a so-called bad references statements are justified? Before a lawsuit, find out what you and your reference agree on.Lastly, make sure you review a few questions your references might want to know. Focus on some of the following topics with your references so you agreestart and end dates of employmentthe reason for leavingsalarypositional responsibilities and achievementswork ethiccommunication skillsteam focuspromotionswillingness to rehiregeneral strengths and weaknessesDo what you should do to anticipate how important references become in your search. They are important. Silence and mere neutrality can be fatal in the world of references. Your investment of time, energy and preparation for interviews should not be derailed by bad, lukewarm or silent references. Do what Alex Partain should have done. Dont get off-track during your next, critical career move. Be proactive and prepared when it comes to references.

Flexible Work Schedules

Flexible Work SchedulesFlexible Work SchedulesFlexible schedules allow employees to vary their arrival and departure times from work, or choose the days that they work. For example, an employee might be allowed to come in any time between 9 am and 11 am, and leave any time between 5 am and 7 pm. Or, they might be allowed to take off Friday if they agree to work Sunday. Alternative to a Traditional Work Week An alternative to the traditional 9 am to 5 pm, 40-hour traditional workweek schedule, flexible work schedules are becoming mora and more common in the workforce. There are many job and freelance options that offer flexible schedules. Flexible schedules are especially popular at abflug-ups and smaller companies, where employees are allowed to choose the dates and times they work as long as they get all of their work done. A survey from YouGov.com reports that 69 percent of the Americans surveyed would prefer an earlier work schedule. Seventeen percent preferred an 8 am to 4 p m schedule, while 14 percent would like to work from 7 am - 3 pm. Almost 20 percent would prefer a later schedule. Twenty percent of millennials wouldnt mind coming into work after 9 am and working into the evening. A later start time is slightly less popular among Gen X (19%) and those 55 and over (17%). Benefits for Employees Employees value flexible schedules as a way to balance work and non-work responsibilities. Flexible schedules are helpful for workers who are raising families, attending graduate school, commuting long distances, traveling, or balancing multiple jobs. Drawbacks for Employees Flexible schedules can sometimes make it difficult to connect with co-workers especially if those coworkers also work non-traditional hours. Unless everyone on the team is on the same page, this can lead to less collaboration, more time working off the clock, and greater stress. Benefits for Employers Employers value flexible scheduling as a method for recruiting and retainin g employees and for increasing job satisfaction and productivity. A flexible schedule also helps build trust between employees and their managers, as employees are often expected to manage their own schedules (with their employers supervision) and take ownership of getting the job done even while on an irregular schedule. When an employer provides the option for a flexible schedule, the schedule is approved by the employees supervisor based upon the needs of the workplace and the employees request for flexibility. Drawbacks for Employers Making flexible schedules work requires planning and organization and managers who are trained to implement non-traditional work schedules. At least initially, this requires a bit more effort from staff to coordinate. Theres also the possibility that some workers might take advantage of an alternative schedule to put in less work. If youre not on a punch-card system, it might be difficult to tell if your 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. employee shows up on ti me each day especially if theyre the only one working on that particular schedule. On the other hand, more dedicated employees might wind up putting in more hours, tracking everyone down. That sounds good in theory, but it can also be a recipe for burnout. You dont want your high performers carrying the rest of the team all the time. How to Ask Your Employer for a Flexible Schedule If youre interested in changing your work hours, its important to be aware of both the pros and cons from your employers perspective. That means looking for ways to minimize the potential downside while emphasizing the benefits to the company. To make your case convincingly, do the following Exceed expectations. Managers are more likely to give benefits like a flexible schedule to workers who are already top performers. Make koranvers youre surpassing all your goals before you ask.Suggest a pilot program. Dont ask for a completely different schedule right off the bat. Try a smaller-scale version at f irst, to work out the kinks before you go full-time. As a bonus, this will also help you determine whether or not you like working on a different schedule something you wont really know until you try. Set goals. Coordinate with your manager to set expectations. Will you log on by a certain time each morning, even if they wont be into the office for another two hours? Will you check in at certain times to evaluate progress and make sure the teams needs are being met?Anticipate problems. Make sure your request fits your work style before you submit it. If you know that mornings are hard for you, dont suggest coming in two hours early, for example. Also, think about what (and who) you need to get your job done. If your project partner comes in a 10 am, getting an early start might not make sense. Excel at your job. Once you have a flexible schedule, make sure that you get to keep it by doing your job to the best of your abilities. Keep your manager informed and meet your goals and you ll be able to take full advantage of your working hours.

How a Career Transition Can Change Your Life

How a Career Transition Can Change Your Life How a Career Transition Can Change Your Life Graduation is just around the corner, which means many students are making career plans and fretting over life-changing choices.After years of hard study, many graduates feel a pressure to succeed, while otherbeis are worried about the prospect of long-term unemployment. Leaving the comfort of college for the unpredictability of corporate life often overshadows the excitement of embarking on a new adventure.To take a little weightoff their shoulders,graduates should remind themselves that what they decide in this instant will in no way determine their entire future career path.If there isone piece of career advice graduates should take to heart, its to embracethe benefits of change. Be brave enough to consider a career transition down the line. Dont allow yourself to become one of the 52 percent of people who are unhappy atwork.To show you the power of career transition, I found three examples of ambitious professionals who had the courage to take a leap and shake up the course of their careers.From Police Officer to Fitness GuruKim Scotts life has changed significantly since she decided to overcome her career transitioning fears. For years, she studied and enforced law, first as a solicitor, then as a police officer. For four whole years, she struggled with the decision tomake a change.In February 2015, Scotttook up running, but she found herself wanting some company. She sought support from her community, and the response was incredible. Scott was overwhelmed by how many women gathered to motivate one another. The sense of camaraderie and fulfillment gave Scotta lift, and something inside her clicked. Scottrealized that with enough hard work, she could make the group grow and create a business doing what she loved.Leaving behind a career and a pension was a scary move, Scott says. I think I printed out and ripped up my resignation form at least ten times before finally taking the plunge.Scottstarted a small business in June 2015 at the age of 38 and named it These Girls Can Run. The aim was to help women become more active in a supportive, positive, and tresor environment.Although I took a pay cut initially, I would do it all over again in a heartbeat, Scott says. Finally, I feel fulfilled, and Im doing something I love. This is the hardest Ive ever worked, but the risk was absolutely worth it, and Ive never looked back. I have two beautiful daughters who are my motivation, and I want to teach them to have the courage to follow their hearts while working hard.To all the soon-to-be graduates out there, Scott emphasizes the importance of authenticity and contentment Be brave Happiness in your chosen career is so important. Listen to your inner voice. If you feel like youre going down a path which doesnt feel right, then dont be afraid to make a change. I wish Id had the courage to follow my heart sooner.From Community Health Worker to Freelance Hai r and Makeup ArtistSandra Cormack became dissatisfied with her careeras a community health worker. The people she worked with were beginning to seriously affect her happiness, motivation, and well-being.Like many people in her position, Cormackstruggled on for a few years. She didnt know how to change careers or what that transition would look like. What finally prompted her to take action was the realizationthat whatever the risk might be,nothing could be worse than her current situation.Cormackstarted a business as a freelance hair and makeup artist. It provided her with a creative outlet, and she began to thrive in ways she had never experienced before. Since starting her company, Cormackhas had a number of celebrity and corporate clients. She regularly works with international clients, is a published beauty writer, and has experience in creating and directing makeup and hair for fashion shows.It may be a clich, but it is true that the most interesting people are those who dont i nitially know what they want to do after completing their studies, Cormack says. If you end up in a career youre not passionate about and youre eager for a transition, just do it If you dont, you will always wonder. If it doesnt work out or it isnt for you, then you can plan another venture. Remember that you dont always have to work for someone else. You can be your own boss, and you can be an entrepreneur. It can be scary leaping into the unknown, but it can also be the best thing you ever doFrom Corporate Buyer to Virtual Agency CEORebecca Newenham began her career as a corporate buyer, working in London for high-profile retail giants like Superdrug and Sainsburys. Successful though she was, Newenhamwanted to find a way of working that allowed her greater flexibility and work/life balance. Knowing that there were many women out there who wanted the same thing, Newenhambegan researching various business ideas.I came to the conclusion that launching a virtual assistant business was the best solution, she says. I use all the networking skills I gained in my corporate career but in a completely different way, building something for myself and my family.Newenham set up Get Ahead VA in 2010. Get Ahead VA now supports hundreds of small and medium-sized enterprises and entrepreneurs across the country. Newenham runs the team of more than30 virtual assistants, which includesmany award-winning experts in their fields.Taking the risk to set up my own business was one of the best decisions I have ever made, Newenham says.To those cautious of change, Newenham has the following words of encouragement Dont be afraid to follow your dreams. Do your research up front, and then just get on with it. If things dont turn out quite as you thought first time, dont panic. Just think about how you could do it differently. Keep evolving until you get it right.One resounding message sent by all the people interviewed I would never go back. They are all inspired and intrinsically satis fied with the career changes they have made. Although they might never go back, they might still go forward and make yet another seismic career change.After all, we spend decades working. These years should be exciting, rewarding, and satisfying.Ida Banek is the founder ofGRIT International.

The Insider Secret on Redmi 6 Exposed

The Insider Secret on Redmi 6 Exposed The buttons on Redmi phones are reported to fail a good deal and in this one too, they are produced with plastic and are somewhat wobbly. The plastic unibody appears robust and may easily do without an instance. Regarding connectivity, the phone comes with a dual-SIM slot with an extra space to include things like a micro-SD card. Not one of the three Redmi phones arrive with any kind of fast charging support. If You Read Nothing Else Today, Read This Report on Redmi 6 Long story short, if you wish to purchase this phone for gaming, you may want to steer clear. One of the serious issues that people face is the Xiaomi Redmi phones become locked. Whichever version you select, it is a seriously excellent budget phone. In truth, it resembles the countless other Xiaomi phones weve seen previously. Initially appearance, this handset doesnt look exciting in any way. You are going to need steady hands to acquire usable images on this phone, h owever, since the camera does have an inclination to lessen the shutter speed drastically whenever possible. The phone heats up a reasonable bit whilst gaming. Xiaomi also likely to launch Redmi musiknote 6 in the marketplace. Xiaomi has been on a launch spree since the start of this year and this has caused buyers having a plethora of choices to select from and that also from the company itself. So youre in right spot. Then youre in only a superior schauplatz. Redmi 6 No Longer a Mystery The SoC is famous for its power efficiency thats well suited for a budget device. Soon, the bootloader unlocking procedure is going to be started. Alongside the variance in the chipset, theres been a small shift in design too. An individual cannot understand the battery percentage beside the symbol. The broader bildschirm notch was probably on account of the extra front-facing camera this device has. Youre able to use Wi-Fi-based location as opposed to GPS 3. Surprisingly, the syste m includes AI-aided face unlock free of fingerprint scanner. The choice, thus, is quite straightforward. There are not any details at this time about a release outside China. Xiaomi also doesnt appear to get bored of the triple-layered back design which has existed for at least 3 decades now. Despite facing heavy competition in late times, Xiaomi stays the undisputed king of the budget together with the midrange segment in India. Currently, the organization has not announced the precise launch date of this mobile, so well update the confirmed date once we come to understand the exact same. Xiaomis hottest offering came with three new devices within a launch. Both these MediaTek chipsets are constructed on a 12nm practice. Xiaomi is among the greatest mobile selling company at the very affordable range with the highest quality. The Downside Risk of Redmi 6 If you would like to return to the ordinary boot, just choose the first alternative. If you are a person who only wan ts a notch in plus-rechnen to their display, its much better to go withRealme 2or theHonor 9N. If you still wished to find the the majority of it at times utilizing the identical hand, the MIUI 7 has a One-handed mode which helps reduce the region of the content that can be found on the monitor. Theres no option for it. Heres the way that it can be set up and the way that it works. When it has to do with using the telephone, the computer software is polarizing. Its a superb phone to buy in case you have long commutes via public transport. Redmi 6 - the Story Unlocking bootloader isnt a truly tough endeavor. however, it would be better in case you unlock them when you know about android basics or youre a techie or you get a general understanding of Custom ROMs, Recoveries, Roots, etc.. Additionally, there are different available Mods that may be downloadable free of charge. Consider it as a wonderful iterative upgrade. Most Noticeable Redmi 6 Plastic end caps lie on top a nd bottom for far better antenna performance. The notch design plays a part in mating a bigger display to the more compact body. This will open a region where you want to drag and drop the applications that you want to split. With Fastboot, you can readily flash certain pieces of or a complete system.

End Q1 with a BANG

End Q1 with a BANGWe need gender neutral dress codes in the workplace. If you dont yet agree with that statement, look no farther than a 55-page presentation given to women executives at Ernst Young in a June 2018 training. pThe presentation, which made headlines last month when an offended participant from Forbes/a Employees should dress in business casual attire, which could include casual slacks and skirts, collared shirts, blouses, or sweaters. Inappropriate attire includes sportswear, jeans, and unkempt clothing, among other options. Please exercise good judgment.pFor business formal workplaces, you could use the following Traditional business attire, including dresses, suits, and pantsuits, is required for external meetings with clients or prospects. Employees should use discretion on other occasions and are expected to demonstrate good judgment. pAnd for casual workplaces, which are on the rise from The Balance/a Dress comfortably for work, but ple ase do not wear anything that could offend your coworkers or make them feel uncomfortable. That includes clothing with profanity, hate speech, or exclusionary language. Your clothing, while casual, should show common sense and professionalism.pNo matter the level of formality your dress code needs to define, make sure youre thinking from the perspective of all employeescurrent as well as futureand creating an environment where they can thrive.p----pstrongWant to share these tips with your company? /strongShow them this handy one-page guide on creating a gender neutral dress code p class=shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image img altertmlich=Gender Neutral Dress Code Guide class=rm-shortcode data-rm-shortcode-id=UGVL4K1574631551 data-rm-shortcode-name=rebelmouse-image data-runner-src=https//assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjEwMDE3Ni9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTU3NDc2NjEyMX0.5akget5uOA _9aHMcPUxY1YM_Zn2w2Yhcj7m_HSCqg7I/img.jpg?width=980 id=a14b6 type=lazy-image/ pbr/