10 Ways to improve your trustworthiness

Leaders and managers spend a lot of time and efforts figuring out how to develop people’s talent, shape their performance, and motivate them to improve.

But when was the last time we focused on ourselves? Specifically, how’s our credibility? Does it need some attention? Here are 10 ways to boost our credibility with associates, customers, and everyone else within our sphere of influence.

1. Demonstrate ownership and a sense of urgency. Our associates and customers want a quick turnaround when they have a problem or concern. Show them they matter.

2. Be clear on when we will respond. When a problem or concern arises, quickly communicate details on how we will fix the issue, and ensure it doesn’t happen again.

3. Return calls and emails promptly. Don’t let emails sit in the inbox unanswered, and don’t hide behind the voicemail—especially if we’ve made a mistake. Be reachable.

4. Meet face-to-face when possible. Email is handy, but it isn’t the right mode of communication for resolving conflicts, having discussions, or expressing feelings.

5. Be open, candid, and transparent. Don’t withhold information that we should be sharing. Don’t force others to ask for the truth; volunteer it. Being open instills trust.

6. Earn trust—don’t ask for it. The worst thing a manager can say is “Trust me!” Build credibility with own actions and we’ll never have to ask for it.

7. Follow through with agreements. If we say we’re going to do something, do it. Never make others beg for information that we said we would provide.

8. Admit the mistakes. Be accountable for own actions. Nothing destroys credibility more than blaming everyone else and refusing to point out finger.

9. Restate commitments. If a customer or associate agrees to anything, restate back to them what they’ve just agreed to. That way there will be surprises—from us or from them.

10. Set a good example. If we blame others, worry, get hysterical, do things in a mediocre way, have disorganized methods, or fail to see others’ potential, so will our associates.

8 Things you should never do in office

There are lot of people who and a lot of articles/books that will tell you what you must do in office. But there will be very few who tell you what not to do. 

Every office has its set of dos and don’ts, but then there is also a set of general don’ts that you need to keep in mind. We are here to list these general don’ts for you and we are sure they will help you stay clear of getting embarrassed in office.

1. Peep into someone’s laptop/desktop

The most annoying person in office is the one who peeps into his colleagues laptop screen. Make sure you are not this annoying person. No matter the urge to see what other people are up to, you must save yourself the embarrassment of being labelled the office’s peeping tom.

2. Walk around like you own the place

It is great to be confident, but it is a sin to be cocky. So under no circumstances should you walk around like you own the place. It is advisable to keep your smartness in check and not throw your weight around. Keep it easy going and genuine, and everyone in office will like you instead of bitching about you.

 3. Be loud

Oh my GOD!Please don’t be that loud person in office. Keep your voice level in check, do not play loud music and stay clear of all things loud. Loud people annoy colleagues like few other people/things do. Train yourself to talk softly yet be audible. 

4. Gossip

We are sure you have heard this one before. It is imperative to stay clear of gossip, but we all know that this is not possible. Every nook and corner of office is full of gossip mongers. What you can do however, is keep your tongue in check. Don’t bitch everyone out to everyone, and don’t allow others to christen you the gossip king.

5. Stealing

Every office goer at some point in time is inclined to steal some office stationery: a pen, a paper, a folder, or a print out. Doing so once in a blue moon is okay, but don’t make a habit of it. Stealing is bad and you will be answerable and payable if you are caught.

6. Lie/Blame others

When you find yourself in a soup or in tough situations you will be inclined to lie or shift the blame of your wrong doing on someone else. If you do this, you are putting not only your reputation at stake but your job too. Always stick to the honesty policy and play fair.

7. Share your personal problems

No one lives an easy life. Everyone has their share of personal problems just as you have yours. It would be naïve to share your personal problems with your work colleagues. We suggest you leave these issues at home and come to office with a clear mind. Remember, your colleagues aren’t your personal agony aunts.

8. Make out

Irrespective of how hot that colleague of yours is, making out in the office is just unpardonable. Making out is an extremely private affair and an office is the least private of places you know. Besides, if somebody catches you in the act, you can bid your job farewell.

*Courtesy: Yahoo News

A Pound of Butter!!!

There was a farmer who sold a pound of butter to the baker.

One day the baker decided to weigh the butter to see if he was getting a pound and he found that he was not. This angered him and he took the farmer to court.

The judge asked the farmer if he was using any measure.

The farmer replied, Your Honor, I am primitive. I don’t have a proper measure, but I do have a scale.”

The judge asked, “Then how do you weigh the butter?”

The farmer replied “Your Honor, long before the baker started buying butter from me, I have been buying a pound loaf of bread from him. Every day when the baker brings the bread, I put it on the scale and give him the same weight in butter.

If anyone is to be blamed, it is the baker.”

What is the moral of the story?

“ We get back in life what we give to others”

Are you Listening !!!

A young and very successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street. He was going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed no children appeared, instead, a brick smashed into the Jag’s side door! 

He slammed on the brakes, spun the Jag back to the spot from where the brick had been thrown. 

He jumped out of the car, grabbed some kid and pushed him up against a parked car, shouting, “What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck were you doing?” Building up a head of steam, he went on. “That’s a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost you a lot of money! Why did you do it?” 

“Please, mister, please, I’m sorry! I didn’t know what else to do!” pleaded the youngster. “I threw the brick because no one else would stop.” Tears were dripping down the boy’s chin as he pointed around the parked car. “It’s my brother,” he said. “He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can’t lift him up.” Sobbing, the boy asked the executive, “Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He’s hurt and he’s too heavy for me.” 

Moved beyond words, the driver tried desperately to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. Straining, he lifted the young man back into the wheelchair and took out his handkerchief and wiped the scrapes and cuts, checking to see that everything was going to be okay. 

“Thank you, sir!” He then watched the boy push his brother down the sidewalk toward their home. 

It was a long walk back to his Jaguar, a long and slow walk. He never did repair the side door. He kept the dent to remind him not to go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention. 

Life whispers in your soul and speaks to your heart. Sometimes, when you don’t have the time to listen life throws a brick at your head. It’s your choice: Listen to the whispers of your soul or wait for the brick. 

“The evil you do remains with you: The good you do, comes back to you!”

A woman baked chapatti (roti) for members of her family and an extra one for a hungry passerby. She kept the extra chapatti on the window sill, for whosoever would take it away. Every day, a hunchback came and took away the chapatti. Instead of expressing gratitude, he muttered the following words as he went his way: “The evil you do remains with you: The good you do, comes back to you!” This went on, day after day. Every day, the hunchback came, picked up the chapatti and uttered the words: “The evil you do, remains with you: The good you do, comes back to you!” The woman felt irritated. “Not a word of gratitude,” she said to herself… 

“Everyday this hunchback utters this jingle! What does he mean?” One day, exasperated, she decided to do away with him. “I shall get rid of this hunchback,” she said. And what did she do? She added poison to the chapatti she prepared for him! As she was about to keep it on the window sill, her hands trembled. “What is this I am doing?” she said. Immediately, she threw the chapatti into the fire, prepared another one and kept it on the window sill. As usual, the hunchback came, picked up the chapatti and muttered the words: “The evil you do, remains with you: The good you do, comes back to you!” The hunchback proceeded on his way, blissfully unaware of the war raging in the mind of the woman. 

Every day, as the woman placed the chapatti on the window sill, she offered a prayer for her son who had gone to a distant place to seek his fortune. For many months, she had no news of him.. She prayed for his safe return. That evening, there was a knock on the door. As she opened it, she was surprised to find her son standing in the doorway. He had grown thin and lean. His garments were tattered and torn. He was hungry, starved and weak. As he saw his mother, he said, “Mom, it’s a miracle I’m here. While I was but a mile away, I was so famished that I collapsed. I would have died, but just then an old hunchback passed by. I begged of him for a morsel of food, and he was kind enough to give me a whole chapatti. As he gave it to me, he said, “This is what I eat everyday: today, I shall give it to you, for your need is greater than mine!” ” As the mother heard those words, her face turned pale. 

She leaned against the door for support. She remembered the poisoned chapatti that she had made that morning. Had she not burnt it in the fire, it would have been eaten by her own son, and he would have lost his life! It was then that she realized the significance of the words:

“The evil you do remains with you: The good you do, comes back to you!” 

Do good and Don’t ever stop doing good, even if it is not appreciated at that time. 

HR Diary: Life is a do-it-yourself project!!!

HR Diary: Life is a do-it-yourself project!!!: An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer contractor of  his plans to leave the house building business and live a more...

Life is a do-it-yourself project!!!

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer contractor of 
his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely 
life with his wife enjoying his extended family. 

He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by. The 
contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build 
just one more house as a personal favor. 

The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was 
not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior 
materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career. 

When the carpenter finished his work the employer came to inspect the house. 
He handed the front-door key to the carpenter. ‘This is your house,’ he 
said, ‘my gift to you.’ The carpenter was shocked! What a shame! 

If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it 
all so differently. So it is with us. 

We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than our best into 
the building. Then with a shock we realize we have to live in the house we 
have built. 

If we could do it over, we’d do it much differently. But we cannot go back. 
You are the carpenter. 

Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. ‘Life is a 
do-it-yourself project,’ someone has said. Your attitudes and the choices 
you make today, build the ‘house’ you live in tomorrow.