Work-life balance lessons from Arianna Huffington

Reformed workaholic Arianna Huffington shares her secrets of success without stress.

If you spend most of your time feeling like you’ve got too much to do, you might feel better when you look at what’s on Arianna Huffington’s plate.

As head of one of the world’s most influential news and information brands, The Huffington Post, the sheer amount of data that this mother of two is responsible for overseeing can make your head spin. Despite these intense professional and personal responsibilities, Huffington has found a way to stay centered in the midst of competing demands that could easily feel chaotic.

I had a chance to interview Huffington to ask her how she does it—and how others can follow her example to achieve a better work-life balance of their own.

Create New Habits

In Thrive, Huffington advocates taking a few simple steps at the personal level that can lead to dramatic effects on your well-being. “I personally start every morning with 20 to 30 minutes of meditation, and in Thrive I recommend very small, manageable steps, including introducing 5 minutes of meditation into your day and getting just 30 minutes more sleep than you are getting now,” says Huffington. “These small changes can open the door to creating a new habit—and all the many proven benefits it brings.”

Course-Correct

With her high-profile role in the media and mind-boggling responsibilities at HuffPo, you might wonder how consistently Huffington is able to follow her sleep and meditation routine, as well as other recommendations she gives readers. “On the whole I’m able to follow my own recommendations, though of course I slip up from time to time,” admits Huffington.

If she feels herself falling out of balance, Huffington has a strategy for catching herself quickly.“I find that the easiest way for me to course-correct is by focusing on my breathing,” says Huffington. “Conscious breathing is something I can return to hundreds of times during the day in an instant. It helps me introduce pauses into my daily life, brings me back into the moment, and helps me transcend upsets and setbacks.”

She adds that focusing on her breathing has helped her become much more aware of when she holds or constricts her breath—not just when dealing with a problem, but sometimes even when she’s doing something as mundane as putting a key in the door, texting, reading an email, or going over her schedule. “When I use my breath to relax the contracted core of my body, I can follow this thread back to my center,” says Huffington.

Go Public

How can you increase your resolve to keep your work-life in better balance? Huffington recommends spreading the word about it.

“I’ve learned that going public about your decision—to meditate, to get more sleep, whatever it may be—can be one way to make that commitment stick,” says Huffington. “You’ll be surrounded, as I found out, by sympathetic friends who have been wanting to do the same thing and will help you stick to your goals.”

In Huffington’s case, after blogging on the Huffington Post about her commitment to get more sleep, complete strangers began coming up to her at events, glancing at their watches. “They were wondering how much longer I planned to stay and whether I was going to be able to get my eight hours,” recalls Huffington. “I felt like a kid out on a school night—with dozens of babysitters all anxious to help me keep my commitment.”

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Make your work-life balance a priority

Put these tips to practice to get more done, be happier at work, and spend more time with loved ones.

If achieving “greater work-life balance” was one of your resolutions for the New Year, you’re not alone. An iVillage survey found that of 1,500 women polled online, 89 percent defined career success as the “flexibility to balance life and work.” Here are six practical tips to help you improve your work-life balance.

Clean out your inbox before work.

The more productive you are at work, the easier it will be to leave the office at a decent hour and enjoy some quality time with your friends and family. Use your smartphone to eliminate spam and organize your inbox of work emails before you get to the office. Whether you do this while waiting in line for your morning coffee or sitting on the train, you can clear out a lot of unnecessary emails and start setting your game plan for the day before you sit down at your desk.

Track your time online.

Does time seem to fly by but your to-do list doesn’t get any shorter? There are a number of free apps such as Izeptoand Toggl you can download to your smart device or PC to track your activities and identify where you’re losing focus. Track your activities for at least one week before you decide how to alter your workflow.

Prioritize your activities and set expectations.

Consider which activities are most important to you. This could include getting home in time to eat dinner with your loved ones or tuck your children into bed, or using your lunch hour to work out at a local gym. Identify the time frame you need to be ‘off the grid’ and communicate these expectations to your team. For instance, you may make yourself unavailable from 6:00-8:00 p.m. every evening, but will jump back online and respond to urgent requests before the next morning.

Delegate the rubber balls.

Consider each priority in your life to be a ball that you’re juggling; some of these balls are made of glass, and some are rubber. When you’re juggling too many priorities, chances are that you’ll end up dropping one along the way. The key is to determine which balls will shatter if they are dropped, and which will bounce back. Consider delegating some of the “rubber” balls to others. Even if a mistake is made, you know it’s something that can be recovered from.

Negotiate flexibility.

Between conferencing software like Skype and iMeet, and document-sharing services like iCloud and Dropbox, the ability to work and perform well outside of the workplace is easier than ever before. Consider negotiating a more flexible work schedule that allows you to work remotely a day or more each week. This option is especially beneficial for those who have long commutes to work.

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Should You Hire a Career Coach?

Invest in a career coach to propel your career forward.0_0_0_0_155_91_csupload_65521818

In the cutthroat job market, it’s important that professionals find their competitive edge. Sometimes an outside opinion can guide you in times of uncertainty or moments for motivation.

A career coach can work directly with a job seeker, handling everything from resume consulting to job interview training. If you choose the right coach, not only will you land a great job, but you’ll ensure it’s the right fit, giving you the long-term success you need. Here are some things a career coach can do for you.

Expert Career Advice

Before you launch your next job search, you should make sure you’re going in the right direction. A career coach first acts as an advisor, determining your skill set and long-term goals. Once these components have been established, a career coach will help you come up with a strategy to help achieve your goals.

A career coach can also recommend courses of action you never even thought of. An expert’s advice could lead you to pursue a position that may match your long-term goals in a better angle.

Resume Review

Although career coaches won’t write your resume for you, they’ll review your existing one and provide technical tips on how to improve it. They can also review your LinkedIn profile and check to see if you are hitting the right notes.

These professionals are equipped with a multitude of far-reaching connections and will introduce you to the right ones. These newly formed alliances will thus help improve your chances of achieving your dream career.

Networking Tips

One of the best ways to gain an edge over the competition is to directly connect with hiring managers and business leaders. Candidates who are seeking these connections will often search through social networks with limited success.

On the other hand, a career coach can introduce you to a variety of networking opportunities that can help you get ahead, such as local events and meetings. You’ll also learn invaluable ways to use existing connections to get an introduction to the people who can help you in your job search. Your coach may even know recruiters and professionals who are looking for someone with your very skill-set.

Job Interview Training

Preparing for a job interview can be a stressful experience, especially if you do not know how to answer difficult questions like, “What are your salary expectations?”.

A career coach can roleplay with you and help formulate responses to match your personal branding. You’ll also have a very clear outline of your career path, so you will naturally be able to formulate better answers to questions such as, “Tell me a little bit about yourself?”

Advancement Opportunities

Career advice isn’t limited to the job search process, either. Even after you’ve landed a great job, you can benefit from advice on everything from dealing with office politics to asking for a raise.

If you find the right coach, consider keeping that person on speed dial. You may find that the advice you receive from your advisor as versatile and well-rounded.

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The job market is competitive, but professionals can still find the perfect job. By working with a career coach, job seekers can set themselves in the right direction, landing a job that will do far more rewarding than just pay the bills.

 

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How to Research a Company You Want to Work For- By Tess Pajaron

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Find out what key facts you need to know before going in for an interview

Before heading out for an interview at a company you’ve had your eye on, you should take time researching your potential employer. Otherwise, how can you be sure the company of your dreams won’t actually turn out to be a nightmare to work for?

As a bonus, any research you do now into your prospective employer will pay dividends during the interview. You can always point to some piece of knowledge you uncovered, being careful to tie it into your skills and why you are the ideal candidate for the job.

It is common to ask applicants why they want to work for the company during interviews. Going in armed with a few particulars will set your feet firmly on the path toward securing the position you desire.

Here are a few things you’ll want to find out and how you can go about gathering the information:

What They Do

Very often, a company’s name does not necessarily make it clear what they do. If the position you are applying for is in a department not directly related to what the company produces, it may not occur to you to investigate.

You don’t want to find yourself working for a company when you don’t like or agree with what they do. This is where the company’s website can come in handy. Good places to check for this information are the “About” page or some variation of it.

Why They Do It

The reason why a business does what it does can provide you with valuable insight into values the company is based on and the passion that fuels the people who work there.

A company’s mission can further inspire you get involved and be a part of the team.

If you can adopt their mission and incorporate it into your statement of why you want to work there, it should put you in solid with the interviewer.

Current Events

Being aware of what is going on with a company can be beneficial for obvious reasons. Sift through the company’s social media pages to shed light on the culture of the company. Searching through news coverage can reveal recent accomplishments, releases, or issues you may find useful to incorporate in the interview.

For further insight, you can also research the company’s key players. These members include but are not limited to department directors, CEO, and president. Other valuable resources include career websites. By visiting these pages, you can read what current and past employees had to say about working there.

Other Questions to Consider:

Here’s a quick list of other questions you may want to keep in mind while you are doing your research.

  • How big is the company?
  • How many employees do they have?
  • Is the company international?
  • Who are their closest competitors?
  • Have there been any major changes recently (new CEO, widespread layoffs, corporate takeovers)?
  • Does the company have a clear vision for the future?
  • What major innovations, if any, is the company responsible for?
  • How do its products or services rate? Are they high quality?
  • Who buys their products or services?

Having the answers to some of these questions fresh in your mind could come in handy during your interview — making you memorable enough to stand out from the sea of applicants

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A CALL TO EXCELLENCE

0_0_0_0_137_137_library_92817”If you want to achieve excellence, you can get there today. As of this second, quit doing less-than-excellent work.” –Thomas J. Watson

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A CALL TO EXCELLENCE

 

0_0_0_0_137_137_library_92817”If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude.” –Colin Powell

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A CALL FOR EXCELLENCE

0_0_0_0_137_137_library_92817“Whatever your discipline, become a student of excellence in all things. Take every opportunity to observe people who manifest the qualities of mastery. These models of excellence will inspire you and guide you toward the fulfillment of your highest potential.” –Michael Gelb and Tony Buzan

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Inspiration Quote

0_0_0_0_137_137_library_92817Don’t confuse having a career with having a life. — Hillary Clinton

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Inspiration Quote

0_0_0_0_137_137_library_92817Successful business people don’t get ahead by wishing they had someone else’s job title, corner office, company car, or market share. They get ahead the mundane way, by doing more and doing it better. Envy is a monster with a gluttonous appetite. And it’s never satisfied. Pursue your goals, not someone else’s goals. — James Dale

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How To Market Yourself

0_0_0_0_146_146_csupload_66547857There’s much more to the job seeking process than making sure your resume is as good as possible. So how can you ensure your job search is successful?

We all know the things we’re supposed to do to help us get a job: have a great resume, include the right buzzwords in our cover letters, use the right body language in interviews etc. But none of this is much use if it isn’t under-pinned with the right mindset.

 Promotion and marketing

Go into a job interview over-confident or under-confident and you’re never going to cut the mustard in the eyes of your potential employer, no matter how good your initial approach has been.   Preparing for job interviews (and even job searches) means learning how to properly market yourself to potential new employers. It’s crucial you believe in your skills and abilities so you can effectively present yourself in the best light during the interview. So you need to approach selling yourself like any good marketer or sales person would approach selling their product.

 Questions, questions

We’ve set out some basic questions you can ask yourself. This will help you understand how to effectively market yourself.

 What are you trying to achieve?

Consider what it is you’re actually trying to achieve. Obviously the final aim is to get a job, but how do you get there? Well, confidence is the key, but don’t overdo it. Of course your product may not be perfect, but no product is. You need to learn to look past any weaknesses for now. To develop the right job interview mindset, focus on your strengths. Think about what makes you unique, in terms of your qualities and accomplishments.

It may sound a little new-agey for some, but visualising yourself in a role – whether it’s a store manager or a chief financial officer – can really help you to focus on what you can bring to the position or contribute to the job. However small you start with this process, it’s an essential part of building your confidence so you can move forward in your job search.

Make sure you’re realistic with this one though. Imagining yourself in a position is not about taking flights of fantasy, it’s about helping you to focus on your personal merits and why you’re the ideal candidate. You need to be able to close the deal, but you’re never going to do that unless your objectives are built on solid foundations of realistic expectation.

 What are you trying to sell?

This pretty much carries on from the above question, but takes things a bit further. Look at yourself honestly and ask why you want the job or the move that you’re focusing on. This is a very useful question to ask yourself, as there’s a very strong likelihood you’ll be asked the same thing if you get as far as the interview.

There are, no right or wrong answers here, but you still need to be prepared. This will help focus your attention on projecting yourself in the right way, and when it comes down to it, being able to answer that question effectively.

 Who’s your audience?

You now know who you are and what you’re trying to achieve, the next step is to understand the people you’re actually talking to. We all know about tailoring our resumes, cover letters and interview answers to the recruiter in question, but to do this we need to really understand what they are looking for.

This means doing your research. Obviously the job spec will hold a lot of these answers for you, but you can take this a step further by researching the company, putting yourself in their position and considering what they would want to hear.

You need to present your skills and experience (and search objectives if you’re applying to a recruiter) in the best possible light. These should be carefully thought out in advance and must be realistic. If you’re applying for a job in an industry you have no experience in, you’ll need to explain how your skills are transferable. If you’re working with a recruiter you might consider asking their opinion as to the feasibility of your goals.

 How can you be more proactive?

The great thing about this process is it can also be effectively applied to making your job searching much more proactive. If you know the job you want, the strengths you can bring to that position, as well as understanding the people you are talking to, you’re perfectly placed to push yourself to companies before they even know they need you.

To do this, target a few companies you feel could benefit from your skills and send out applications to them. As with any sort of cold call like this you need to follow your application up with a phone call. But be prepared, this can be a tough process, but it’s incredibly rewarding if you’re successful.

To make the process as potentially rewarding as you can, keep an eye on the jobs market. Applying to a company that’s actively recruiting – even if it is in different areas – is reducing the chances of you being flatly turned down.

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