The Top Skill Youll Need to Grow Your Career

The Top Skill Youll Need to Grow Your Career When you think of leaders, â€Å"empathy† might not be the word that comes to mind first. Yet many companies find that developing a more intuitive connection with their employees and customers is improving their bottom lines. Companies that respond to needs (rather than demographics alone) are able to focus on providing a service, rather than just a product. It’s not about the touchy-feely notions of empathy that we often see, but rather perceptiveness. This is just as relevant within a company’s walls. Employees who show emotional intelligence and empathy are often promoted and recognized because they deliver what the company (or customers) want. These are life skills that can be fine-tuned into helpful business skills.Here’s how to apply a more empathetic bent to your career growth.Anticipate workplace needsThis doesn’t mean you should fetch coffee for your boss. But you should look at your projects and goals- what are they supposed to achieve? Wh at service do they provide to your boss, your team, your company?Ask for feedbackAsk your manager for a progress report of sorts, or set up a time to talk about your progress on a particular goal. Use your annual performance review to ask questions, and go in-depth on what you’re doing well and what you can change for the coming year. Focus on your achievements, and emphasize how those help your company’s bottom line.Use customer service as a guidePractice by looking around at various companies, both inside and outside of your industry. What do they provide to the public? If it’s a product, what niche does that product fill? What is the company’s relationship to its customers, and what do customers expect?

6 Ways Nurses Can Stay Healthy During Flu Season

6 Ways Nurses Can Stay Healthy During Flu Season Chances are, the hospital or facility you work at requires you to get your flu shot. But sometimes even that is not enough. Here are 6 more preventative measures you can take to protect yourself from getting sick this season. 1. Treat Your Body Like a TempleJunk food is not your friend. Red Bull and french fries and Snickers bars might get you through a shift, but they won’t get you through flu season. Try and eat healthier (and make sure to include fruits and vegetables!) so your body gets the vitamins and minerals it needs to fight things off. And stay hydrated!2. Get Some SleepYou’re working overtime and the time off you do have is full of holiday activity. Make sure to rest as much and as well as you can so you don’t have to lose work time or play time.3. Be Travel SmartStay hydrated and boost your vitamin intake. Carry Airborne or Zicam or Emergen-C and a packet of sanitizing wipes on planes and trains and buses so you don’t pick up any germs.4. Be Vi gilantStart to get a sniffle or a sneeze? Feel a little achy? Stop what you’re doing and take care of yourself. Take your vitamins, get some rest, drink lots of fluids. Use hand sanitizer often. Get a humidifier. If you’re proactive enough, you can head the flu off at the start.5. Get CleanClean your kitchen and bathroom regularly. But don’t forget to also sanatize the things you carry with you, like your cell phone or your keys. A few disinfectant wipes will do a lot of good in fending off the army of germs. And if you do get sick, remember to change your toothbrush.6. Be an EnforcerYou’re a nurse, so you’re a hand washing and sanitizing pro. But the rest of your family probably isn’t. Get on your soapbox and make sure everyone you love is following the same guidelines. No sick people preparing food! Use tissues to sneeze! Wash hands after coughing! Protect your loved ones and protect yourself.