Sunday 26 June 2011

Interesting Tips For Giving Feedback at Job



Say this
"I noticed that you've missed a few deadlines lately." Not that: "You seem disinterested in your work lately." When giving feedback, it's important to focus on an employee's specific behavior, not the impression you had of it. Focusing on the specific behavior that led to that impression opens up the door to have a clear discussion about the reasons why, rather than making the employee feel judged, alienated or confused.

Say this
"You were effective when you ..." or, "You could've been more effective when you ..." Not that: "Good job." In other words, feedback that is generic and vague is also useless. Focusing on specific actions has two major benefits: It prevents employees from taking the feedback personally, and it also helps them understand what they should do -- or not do -- in the future.

Say this
"I'd like to offer you some feedback on this report, is that OK with you?" Not that: "Your report was ..." Whenever possible, request to give feedback. Not only will your employees appreciate the gesture, but they'll be more likely to take the feedback into consideration and apply it to try to improve.

Say this
"Your presentation was extremely well-researched. Here's where it could've been stronger ..." Not that: "The research you used in your presentation was a little weak in some areas." Preface with the positive. Point out what the employee is doing well before delving into areas for improvement.

Say this
"Tell me, what was your understanding of what I asked you to do?" Not that: "You seem to have misunderstood what I asked you to do." There's that assumption creeping back in again, which does little to open up an honest, productive conversation.

Worst Things to Say at Work



“That’s not my job.”
If somebody comes to you with an issue, there’s probably a reason. It might be your responsibility to deal with it or your input is valued. Either way, use the situation to prove you’re a team player and a problem solver. Plus, it pays to earn some good office karma because you never know when you’ll need help from other colleagues

“Yeah, no problem.” (If you don’t mean it.)
If you take on a task with a smile but have no intention of actually completing it, you’re going to earn a reputation as an unreliable person. If you know you can’t or won’t complete the project, be honest about it. Your colleagues are relying on you, so your decision not to follow through impacts their jobs, too.

“Don’t tell anyone I said this, but … ”
If it’s really a secret, keep it to yourself. Whether you know someone’s about to get fired or what the boss’ salary is, you’re going to get credit for spreading the news. You’re not exempt from being the subject of office chatter, either. Don’t expect your gossip-loving co-worker to suddenly have tight lips when it comes to divulging your secrets.

“It’s not my fault.”
When your boss comes to you with a problem, the last thing you want to do is to deflect blame to someone else. Maybe it isn’t your fault, but remember that you’re not in a courtroom and nobody’s looking for the culprit right now. All that matters is making sure the problem is solved and doesn’t happen again. You can deal with the real issue later, but you’ll just make yourself look worse if you spend more time finger-pointing than problem solving.

“To be honest with you … ”
First, any time this phrase is used, you know something negative is going to follow. More important is the message it sends to others. “Does this colleague have to identify when he or she is being honest with you? When that phrase is not used, should you then doubt the integrity of the statement?”

“I just didn’t have enough time for that.”
In case you didn’t realize, everybody’s pretty busy these days. When your boss asks you to do something, chances are it’s not really an option. If your main concern is accomplishing the task on time, Lampton suggests you explain the situation. Mention how busy your schedule is but that you can accommodate the request if some other projects are rearranged. You’ll show that you take each assignment seriously and only want to turn in your best work.

“. . . or else.”
Giving anyone in the office an ultimatum rarely ends in success. Whether you say it to a colleague or your new intern, you’ll only gain enemies and earn a reputation for being difficult. If cordial requests don’t work and threats are the only way to get things done in the office, you need to re-evaluate your work environment.

Tips for Working Multiple Jobs


Whether for money or experience, 17 percent of Americans work more than one job, according to the BLS. There is much to be gained from taking on a second job. Besides the obvious monetary rewards, second jobs can boost your credentials and possibly lead you down the path to a new career.
Embrace Your Inner Nerd and Expand Your NetworkBesides beefing up your résumé, you're putting yourself out there to meet more potential clients for when you fly solo in the future. If you're an all-around computer genius, you could turn your expertise into income by working as the "go-to" guy or girl for computer advice and maintenance. Companies like Best Buy are looking for people with technology know-how for their 24-hour support task groups, which help folks figure out everything from surviving a crash to finding the "on" button.
Try Retail's Flexible Hours on For SizeIf you're a stay-at-home parent or looking for a way to add a little extra income to the household budget to help defray expenses, you may want to consider spending a little time working in retail. In addition to flexible hours and extra money, the store discount can be a big bonus, especially if it's a place where everyone in your family shops. Some retail companies even offer a discount at their affiliate stores, leaving you with a break on your bills and a bulge in your bank account.
Start Some Engines and Watch Your Hobby Turn Into CashA lot of people are automotive enthusiasts, but if you have more than admiration and can actually turn the hunk of parts in your garage into something amazing, you may want to polish your skills by doing some detail work for other motorists. From vintage Vespas to classic cars, there are a lot of people out there who could use your knowledge on auto repair or where to find the best parts at the best price If you create enough recognition for yourself, your labors of love could turn into a secondary income and offer you a break from the office. 

Some Tips on Working a Second JoB
  • Make sure: your current employer has no policies against moonlighting and that your second employer understands you also are working at another full-time job.
  • Be sure: you understand exactly what hours you will be working and what responsibilities you will have. You don't want to sign on for a 6 to 9 p.m. shift only to find out that you really won't be getting out until after 11 p.m.
  • Don't let work take over your life: You'll burn out fast. Taking on extra hours or covering someone's shift occasionally is fine. But if you over schedule yourself, your performance at your primary position will suffer.
  • Plan ahead: A little time off for vacation or holidays gets tricky if you're working double time, but it doesn't have to be a disaster if you communicate things in advance.

Cheapest Destinations for Tourists


Morocco


Two of the biggest places in Morocco the beaches and the markets are free. Everything else is pretty cheap: An inexpensive hotel room will cost you around $25, while you can sip Morocco’s famed mint tea for 65 cents (a beer costs more, about $3.23). To travel between cities, take the trains, which are fast, frequent and cheap: The 300-mile journey from Tangier to Marrakech will set you back only around $2

Mexico


Most Americans should stay away from the border areas, where drug-related violence has been on the rise. But tourists who choose to avoid the country altogether are missing out on great deals and inexpensive travel opportunities. Visit the safer areas, 100 miles or so south of the U.S. border, and for the cheapest trip, steer clear of resort towns. You’ll find beer for $1.50 and admission to archaeological sites for about $3

Bulgaria


Prices in Bulgaria have risen since 2007, when the country joined the European Union, but it’s still an outstanding bargain compared with Europe as a whole. This is especially true if you steer clear of the capital, Sofia; besides, the soul of Bulgaria lies in its lovely small towns and villages. If the sands call, though, Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast is one of the cheapest places to enjoy a sunny beach resort. A beer will cost you about $1.30 here, and a bottle of decent wine can be had for as little as $3.50.

Poland

Europe is generally not a cheap place to visit, except for Eastern Europe — but in recent years even this region has become expensive. Fortunately for travelers, Poland is about the cheapest place you can go in Europe. A beer here will cost you as little as $1, a burger around $3 and a cup of coffee $3.50. Travel costs will likely rise here before long, and Poland is expected to adopt the euro within a few years, so now’s the time to go.

Indonesia

If you’re willing to live as the locals do, Indonesia can be wonderfully inexpensive. A beer will cost you around $1.65, but you can eat for pennies by subsisting on the Indonesian staple: rice, grown in the nation’s lovely terraced rice fields, which often are tourist attractions in their own right. If you choose to go more of a gourmet route, a seafood dinner with drinks might cost as much as $10. Indonesia is a vast nation of more than 17,000 islands, so if you want to see much of it, you’ll likely get to know the ferry system, through which you can ride from Java to Kalimantan for just $18.

Mango Season..... Fruitiii Fruitiii

  

Mango

Mango is one of the most popular tropical fruits in the world and is often known as the "apple of the tropics". Mango fruits are usually eaten ripe, when they are soft and sweet. But some people prefer them unripe, when they are harder with a more sour taste.

Basic information on mango

Scientific name:Mangifera indica
English:Mango
Common mango
Dutch:Mango
Manga
Spanish:Mango
French:Manguier
Mangue
Fruit du manguier
German:Mango
Mangobaum
Mangofrucht
Italian:Mango
  
Family:Anacardiac
  
Origin:Southern Asia, Burma, eastern India
Distribution:All tropical regions of the world.
  
Evergreen or deciduous:Evergreen
Flowers:Yellowish or creamy color
Leaves:Dark green above and pale below. Flushes of young leaves are usually reddish or yellowish.
Climate and weather:Lowland tropical and subtropical areas. Requires a frost-free climate. Must have warm dry weather to set fruit.
Pollination:Pollination by flies, hoverflies, bees. High humidity and rain will result in poor pollination. Mango trees are monoecious and self-fertile.
Height:10-15 meter (but sometimes higher)
Crown size:4-7 meter (or even bigger)
Blooming periodDecember-January (Thailand)
Type of soil:Any well-drained soil.
Preferred pH:5.5 - 7.5
Moisture:Moderate. Avoid wet soils.
Light:Full-day sunlight
Growth rate:Moderate
Spacing (close range)4 meter
Spacing (wide range)8 meter
Canopy:Often broad and rounded. Good as a shade tree.
Propagation:Grafting of selected cultivars on seedling rootstocks
Insect pests:Scales, mealybugs, mites, psyllids, fruit flies.
Diseases:Powdery mildew on flowers, bacterial spot on leaves and fruits, anthracnose
Fruit development:From flowering to maturity takes 100-150 days.
Harvesting:Pick mangos when fully ripe off the tree.
Uses:Eat as a dessert fruit. Also used to produce juice, jam or jelly. Unripe fruits can be used to prepare pickles or chutney.



Proverbs about mango

  • An ant guarding a mango.
  • Crime leaves a trail like a water beetle; like a snail, it leaves its silver track; like a horse-mango, it leaves its smell.
  • If you don't eat mangos that fall on the ground, be sure to be strong enough to pick ones on the tree.
  • Mango among fruits, pork among meats, tea among leaves.
  • You don't throw rocks at a green mango.


Sunday 19 June 2011

For Dad with Love
Dad I want you to know that, in my heart you’re always with me. Not a day goes by when I don’t think about you, care about you, and wish good things for you. Not a day goes by when I don’t remember how lucky I am to have a loving father...



I'm Glad I'm Your Daughter

Love from Daughter.....
Dad, As days have turned to years, and you've watched me grow up... from that little girl who made you smile into the woman I am today, one thing has never changed... I've always wanted nothing more than to make you proud of me. With all..
From Both of Us

 Father's Day from your kid and your kid-in-law. Headache #1 and Headache #2.

In Your Heart
Dad, I may not need you to hold my hand anymore -- but I'll always need you to hold me in your heart! Love You Lots. HAPPY FATHER'S DAY.
From Your Daughter
Happy Father's Day to a dad who's never stopped looking out for his daughter . . . from a daughter who's never stopped looking up to her dad. Love you, Dad.

Funny Father's Day Poems From Daughter to Dad


It's that time of year again when you ask your dad to grill out hamburgers in hot dogs in honor of your visit home for Father's Day. Poor guy never gets a break, does he? I'm home for the weekend to toast to good old D-A-D, or as he's known in this circle, Pops, and so far I've asked him to cook dinner, open a stuck window, kill a bug, join me in town tomorrow for a Civil War reenactment, and, sure, I'll be honest, I asked him for 20 bucks. Sue me.
But Pops knows I love him. I don't take 5 hour bus rides for just anyone. And I think he likes helping me? I hope? Anyway, I realize that my presence and my requests for aide do not necessarily a gift make, so I thought of some poems he might like as well. Feel free to re-use for your dads!
And just to save some face here and not seem like a total jerk, I did get him a small present, but I can't really say what it is lest he not be surprised by the tie and wolf urine that I hid in the garage.
Without further ado, here are some Father's Day poems to give your old man this Sunday:

For my dad who never embarrassed me too much:
Dear Dad,
You're rad.
Thanks for raising me in a sweet pad,
and for not making too much fun of me during my Backstreet Boys fad,
and for being the Good Cop when I was bad,
and for buying me a Blizzard when I was sad,
and for not wearing pants of plaid.
That made me really glad.

For my dad who puts up with my ridiculousness:
Dad, I know I owe you a lot,
Appreciation is never what you sought.
You drove me to soccer, you drove me to school.
You paid for my stitches when I fell off that bar stool.
You pick up my pieces,
Co-sign my subleases,
I'm sure without you, I'd be with the polices.
 

Happy Father's Day, Dad

Constant crying for unknown reasons.
The inability to carry an adult conversation without referring to something ‘cute’ that happened yesterday.
If any of this sounds familiar, chances are you’re a parent.
On June 8, 2009, I embarked on the amazing journey we call parenthood. Nancy and I welcomed our son, Jacob, into the world at 9:13 p.m. As usual, Nancy did most of the work, and I just kind of hung around for support.
Later that week, I found myself enjoying the benefits of my Father’s Day–fielding phone calls of well-wishes, being given the opportunity to relax, etc., and realized that from now on, once a year on a day besides my birthday, I’d be able to pull the ‘But it’s Father’s Day’ card. I was quite excited.
And then I had to change a diaper.
As you can tell by the date, Jacob recently turned 2-years-old. Lately he’s begun flexing the nickname that usually associates itself with 2-year-olds, but that’s a (lengthy) column for another day. As a first-time father, I can honestly say there’s no greater feeling–and responsibility–than raising a child.
Just like any parent, I have my tough times, but, as was promised to me by so many prior to Jacob’s arrival, the good outweighs the bad on any given day. Before working for Patch, I once had a colleague–a mother of three young adult males–who said to me, “God made them cute on purpose. This way you don’t kill them.”
While a 10-minute tantrum can make you want to pull your hair out–at least what’s left of it from the stress of parenthood–a single smile, giggle, or a ‘first’ of something flips the switch without a problem.
So, Nancy and I enjoyed this two-year journey so much, we’ve decided to double up on the joy. We’re expecting Koestenblatt baby No. 2 in November.
We’ve become so used to Jacob’s growth and independence that we find it hard­–and scary–to head back to those 3 a.m. diaper changes and crying sessions this winter. But we know that simple smile and the baby smell–yep, it’s there, just like everyone said it would be–will help us keep the joys above the pains. And we’re excited for all of it.
So, next Father’s Day, I’ll have two reasons to celebrate. Chances are I’ll end up changing a diaper or playing tee-ball with Jacob (he’s crushing the ball about 10 feet right now, and I’m ecstatic). But, is there a better way to celebrate life’s most gratifying responsibility? I doubt it.
Even if it’s at 3 a.m.
And to all the fathers out there, whether you’re sitting on the couch, mowing the lawn, playing with the kids or working to provide for your family today, congratulations, and Happy Father’s Day

Joke Of the DayYYY.......

Death In The Family
One day, a blonde's neighbor goes over to her house, sees the blonde crying, and asks her what happened.
The blonde said that her mother had passed away.
The neighbor made her some coffee and calmed her down a little and then left.
The next day the neighbor went back over to the house and found the blonde crying again.
She asked her why she was crying this time.
The blonde said, "I just got off of the phone with my sister. Her mother died too!