Expressing Gratitude In The Workplace

With Thanksgiving around the corner, gratitude is on everyone’s mind. But it doesn’t need to take a turkey dinner to show your appreciation. A little gratitude goes a long way year round—especially in the workplace!

The National Alliance Of Mental Health (NAMI) of California shared multiple studies showing how expressing and receiving gratitude can improve mood, reduce stress, and build morale. Employees want to feel valued at work, and expressing thanks is a great way to build a culture of value. Whether you’re a manager or simply a team member, expressing gratitude will always have a positive influence on your coworkers. Express your thanks by holding close to these thoughts.

Be specific

A simple “great job!” or “keep up the good work!” may provide a slight boost, but the more specific you can be, the more your expression of gratitude will be taken to heart.

Focusing on a tangible accomplishment will give your thanks more merit and really feel personal. This doesn’t have to be a massive, earth-shattering accomplishment necessarily. SnackNation’s Connor Garret writes to highlight the little things so people know that doing their job well is appreciated. You may even highlight something the person didn’t think was a big deal themselves and really give them a boost!

“Sometimes, the things worth celebrating aren’t even quantifiable. For instance, you could even celebrate a team member who spreads consistent positivity in the workplace.” -Connor Garret

Focus on those not in the spotlight

Not everyone likes to be in the spotlight or gets the chance to be in it. Not every accomplishment is flashy, but everyone keeps the foundation of the organization running. Everyone deserves to feel like a valued member of the team!

Forbes’ Kyle Bailey mentions an award his company created to highlight behind-the-scenes accomplishments. The “NuWarrior” award is given to those who “sustain the backbone of the company” that may not otherwise receive recognition. This assures that those not always in the spotlight have their accomplishments recognized and feel like valued members of the team.

Think of those in your organization that might not always receive the glory. Take time to go out of your way to at least thank them or recognize their efforts, and your appreciation will go a long way.

Express through actions

Awards like Bailey’s “NuWarrior” are an excellent way to show appreciation. Not only did you take time out of your day to thank someone, but you did so in a tangible manner.

Enertia Software CEO Vince Dawkins recommends verbally offering a “thank you” (especially publicly!) but also finding a way to express gratitude in a way beyond words. This could be direct financial compensation or a reward of some kind. But even if you aren’t in a leadership role, you can still offer a little extra by offering assistance, acts of service, or some way to make their job easier, says Herzing University.

“People remember kind words of gratitude, but they also feel respected and extremely appreciated when something more is given to them.” –Kimberly A. Whitler

Employers can offer things like care packages (great for remote team members), awards, gift cards, and shoutouts, but they can also encourage a culture of gratitude, writes Connor Garret. Encouraging your team to regularly express gratitude is an excellent way to show that appreciation starts from the top and that you have a culture of value.

Write handwritten notes

One of the most well-received tokens of appreciation is one of the most old-school and traditional. It’s hard to beat a handwritten letter when it comes to expressing gratitude.

Headsup Corporation cited Dr. Martin E. P. Seligman, a psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania who studied positive psychological therapies. He found that receiving a hand-written letter of appreciation had a bigger effect on happiness than any other method.

Not only does a written thank you note show appreciation, but the extra effort taken to write out the accomplishment shows, and it gives the recipient a tangible token to look to. And Forbes’ Kimberly A. Whitler suggests that a physical copy won’t get lost in the abyss the way an email might.

“It really shows you care enough to go the extra mile to ensure the recipient feels appreciated.” –Sheldon Yellen, BELFOR Property Restoration

Wrap up

No matter what the season is, there’s never a bad time to express gratitude at work. Expressing and receiving thanks is a great way to build morale and create a positive culture. You don’t have to be a manager to take charge—it’s always good to be recognized by your peers as well! Take time to express sincere thanks, and you’ll be building toward a wonderful work culture.

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Why Should You Hire Former Athletes?

At NexGoal, we specialize in matching organizations with top-tier talent with a focus on former athletes and those with the athlete mindset. While our history working with and being founded by former athletes may make us biased, the experts agree that you can’t go wrong filling your company with ex-athletes. Studies show that former athletes may make 5-15% more than their peers. Meanwhile, Japanese companies are heavily turning to retired athletes in order to achieve competent workers. Many hiring managers and CEOs like ASM Sports Groups’ Christopher Vidal have found former athletes to be some of their best candidates.

The traits that allow athletes to succeed at their chosen sport translate seamlessly to the business world. Even those who didn’t play organized sports can still embody the traits of a successful athlete—this is what we refer to as the “athlete mindset.” If you’re seeking to fill your organization with quality talent, you can’t go wrong with hiring someone with the athlete mindset thanks to these virtues.

Goal-oriented

No matter the sport, every athlete is a competitor striving for ascending heights. Their goals may be different, but each athlete is working towards an ever-changing finish line. From making the varsity squad to becoming a world champion, everyone starts somewhere and creates a clear vision of where to go next.

All Business’ Jon Forknell points out that this teaches former athletes to excel both on their own and as part of a team. Both of these tenets are highly desirable in the professional world as well. Athletes know that to achieve their goals, they’ll have to put in the work themselves. The coach isn’t taking the shot for them, writes Forknell.

But most sports are a team effort, and even those that aren’t can benefit from teamwork. Knowing how to succeed as a team to help the squad reach its goals is crucial for athletes and professionals alike.

Coachability

Think of your favorite athlete. No matter how gifted they are or how much inherent potential they had, it took years of coaching for them to achieve their goals. An athlete’s willingness to grow and accept criticism, feedback, and direction from a mentor is something that serves them well in life after sports.

“If you aren’t able to humble yourself and submit to the coach, you’re not playing.” –Vaughn A. Calhoun

GradLeaders points out that even solo sport athletes have coaches. Someone that grew up being coached and knowing how to accept criticism without becoming offended will be off to a better start in the workforce than someone less disciplined.

The contemporary career climate evolves at breakneck speed thanks to ever-changing technology and world events. Being able to accept guidance is critical to keep up.

Balanced

Being a student-athlete can be tough as you’re expected to wear different many different hats (sometimes literally). Balancing academics with team events, practices, and games, potentially for multiple sports, means that athletes must have excellent time management skills and the ability to balance their many duties.

“Playing a sport through high school and then in college, and maintaining a good GPA is not easy. It reflects very nicely on the resume of an athlete, and shows to the potential employer that the person can manage their time effectively.” -Chris Valleta

Not only does this make former athletes fantastic at scheduling, but they know how to prioritize and compartmentalize in the workplace. A former athlete is well-positioned to know what tasks to prioritize and how to stay focused when things get hectic.

Emotional strength

Being an athlete isn’t all glory. Because of the competitive nature of sports and other extracurricular activities, most of those in any given event will not be the winner. It takes a lot of effort to win, but one must also learn how to lose with dignity.

Businessman and former NFL player Chris Valletta says that athletes having a network of teammates and coaches helps facilitate a sense of belonging, a boost in mental health, and a group to lean on in hard times, helping keep them strong.

Athlete Career Placement mentions an athlete’s discipline as one of their most valuable traits. Knowing how to focus on a goal and compartmentalizing failure in order to focus on the next steps give them an edge in staying emotionally strong when things get tough at work. The past few years have shown that changes can happen quickly, and having the emotional strength to come out on top is crucial.

Wrap up

Remember—one didn’t have to play a sport at a high level to have the athlete’s mindset. Not all had the privilege or physical gifts required to have a long sports career. These intangible traits we recognize from former athletes are found in many, and these are the types of candidates that can truly make an impact in your organization. Consider former athletes and those with the athlete mindset for your next opening and you won’t be disappointed with the results!

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How To Respectfully Resign From Your Job

It’s rare for workers to stay with one organization through their entire career in the modern job climate, especially in the wake of the pandemic. The Great Resignation is still ongoing as new opportunities evolve and employees seek value from their employers. Regardless of the reason, at some point, it’s likely that you’ll resign from your current job.

Even if you’re choosing to leave because your boss or your current job is a nightmare, you’ll still want to follow the proper etiquette when quitting. You don’t want to burn any bridges you may need down the road or provide your new employer with any red flags! Leave on the best possible terms by embracing these guidelines.

Gather anything you may need

Before you set things in motion, make sure you have everything you need from your current job before resigning. Once things are set in motion, you’ll never know how things could play out. Even when giving advanced notice, you may be asked to leave or be terminated before that final proposed date.

Alison Doyle suggests saving any files you may need access to on a flash drive, the cloud, or through an email copy. You may have lists of contacts or projects you have the rights to that you could lose access to. You’ll also want to clear out any personal details or emails on any work-owned devices.

While doing this, don’t give any indication otherwise you’ll be quitting, such as taking down personal photos.

Don’t tell your coworkers first

You don’t want anyone to know you’re quitting before you’re able to give the official notice to your boss, which is why you keep your personal photos and such up. Even if your trust your coworkers, there’s a high chance the information will get leaked.

If your boss hears you’re quitting from a third party, it can sour their mood and have the exit process take a turn for the worse. They may not respect how they heard this and take it personally, and you’ll lose them as a reference in the future. In fact, you might turn them into an obstacle down the road.

Give advanced notice (in person if possible)

Not only should you let your boss be the first to know you’re leaving, but the notice should be delivered in a formal resignation letter.

“If you hate your job, you likely want to get out as soon as possible. However, leaving before giving two weeks’ notice could potentially hurt your reputation and your chances of getting hired in the future. Plus, during that time, your employer will need at least two weeks to ensure that your duties get distributed to other employees until they hire a replacement.” –Dillon Price, Monster.com

A short but detailed letter is the way to go, according to Ian Taylor. It doesn’t need to be a novella, but it should be more formal and explanatory than “smell ya later.” Ian says to clearly state your boss’s name, your position, and your expected final day. Take him to thank them for the opportunities you were granted, and try to list some positives and things you’ve learned. Finally, end by offering to make the transition as smooth as possible. For more details and examples, check out Ladders’ Ashley Jones’ excellent guide.

If you’re able to deliver this in person, do so, recommends Allison Doyle. Set up a formal meeting time to deliver your resignation and discuss related manners in a distraction-free setting. They may try to talk you out of it, but if your mind is made up, stay strong but polite.

Be careful with your wording

Even if you’re leaving because of a toxic environment, you’ll want to stay professional. Don’t mention the toxicity or things you hate about your job in your resignation letter or exit conversations, even if your internal voice is screaming for it.

Forbes’ Jennifer Landis-Santos says to consider your legacy. What words do you want to define your tenure with the organization? Not only will this be good for your future endeavors, but it will help you keep perspective when choosing your words. You want to stay classy and take the high road! You may still get mixed reactions, but that’s business.

“Focus on the skills you have learned, the friendships you have made and the positive experiences you have had when talking to people in your current and new place of employment.” –Indeed

Say goodbye

Even if you’re leaving the job behind, you probably won’t want to cut ties with every relationship you made.

Forbes’ Julia Wuench says to send a goodbye email to your team on your last day to bid your good wishes and thank those that have assisted you. You’ll likely want to stay in touch with some coworkers as friends or as networking partners, and this act shows that you view your colleagues as fellow people.

Keep communication open with your valued colleagues, and, if possible, be there for your replacement during the transition phase. These small acts of kindness could pay off in the long run, even if you hated your job.

Wrap up

Even if you’ve already got an amazing offer lined up, don’t leave your previous job on negative terms. Be respectful, be direct, give notice, and be prepared for extra complications like being asked to leave before your final date happens or being asked to complete an exit interview. If nothing else, you’ll leave on terms you can feel good about, and you may have valuable contacts down the road!

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Conducting A SWOT Analysis To Find The Right Career

Only you can decide the right career path for yourself, but there are a myriad of tools available to help you self-evaluate and guide yourself to the best decision. Whether you’re a fresh graduate, a former athlete entering the workforce, or an experienced professional seeking a new path, there are tools to help you find the right path.

One of these valuable tools is the SWOT analysis. This strategic planning technique is used to identify Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. SWOT is used in many industries to make important decisions, and you can adapt it to your personal needs to paint the path to a truly rewarding career! We’ll analyze each letter and how you can conduct a rewarding analysis for yourself!

Strengths

Strength is what it sounds like on the tin—what are you good at? This is where you can kick modesty to the curb and really hype yourself up. What sets you apart from others? If you do have trouble celebrating your own accomplishments, don’t hesitate to ask for feedback. Your inner circle might see things in a different light.

Job Hunt’s Don Goodman suggests the start with the strengths you have, especially ones you particularly enjoy, and then relating them to demand in the marketplace. Modern job descriptions commonly list the skills needed to thrive in that position, giving you an easy way to see what is in demand.

Look at the experiences you’ve had and categorize your skills into hard and soft categories. Many of these skills will be transferable in many industries, but this should overall position you towards finding industries suited to your personal strengths.

Weaknesses

While it’s easier to hype ourselves up, it can be challenging to name our weaknesses. But knowing what your weaknesses are is crucial in learning to overcome them or to know what career paths you may not be suited to. Again, be honest with yourself!

Comparison is the thief of joy, but Forbes’ Trinity Aikens believes comparing yourself to your peers in this case can answer some tough questions. What do you struggle with compared to your peers, or what takes you much longer than your peers is a good way to gauge if something is a weakness.

“Do other people see weaknesses that you don’t see? Do co-workers consistently outperform you in key areas? Be realistic – it’s best to face any unpleasant truths as soon as possible.” –Mind Tools

Opportunities

When you know your strengths and weaknesses, you can apply them to the grand scheme of things. What opportunities are out there for someone with your strengths and weaknesses? Indeed views opportunities as the external options available to you.

When you look at the things you excel at, what career opportunities come to mind? Is there a niche that you can fill? Because you took the time to list out your skills, new ideas you hadn’t considered previously may manifest.

Consider how technology keeps evolving and creating new opportunities. My position writing weekly blog posts catering to job seekers wouldn’t have been something fathomable in my childhood. Always be willing to reevaluate the current market to look for new and emerging trends.

“Like the people, mostly women, who were excellent typists in the 1990s saw the need for typing skills disappear as computers and word processing software became much more common and reliable, look at where the demand for your strengths may be increasing.” –Don Goodman

Threats

The inverse to opportunities, what outside circumstances could hamper your ability to seek out these new opportunities? The nagging voice in your head telling you what could go wrong is annoying, but in this case, hear it out and write what comes to mind.

Is there anything that could keep this potential career path from being viable in the near future? Look at things like the strength of the market, the amount of competition, and the necessity of the niche. Monster’s Dawn Papandrea suggests researching potential threats or trends you may need to contend with so you can start countering them.

“Moving outside your comfort zone will keep you from simply reinforcing your existing beliefs. Be unflinching in revealing faults and weaknesses, but also in celebrating your personal strengths.” –Marci Martin

Wrap up

With the list done, you can create a plan of action based on your data and begin the journey to career happiness. Remember to be honest with yourself during this process. The personal SWOT analysis is meant to answer questions about yourself and guide you to a promised career. You aren’t trying to impress anyone, and you won’t get the results you seek unless you’re truly introspective. Don’t be afraid to get feedback if necessary. With luck, the results of this analysis will paint a clearer picture and steer you toward the career you deserve.

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Don’t Make These Costly First Interview Mistakes!

You can never take a first impression for granted, especially in an interview! When you’re being judged compared to your peers, every little fact can make or break your chances of getting the job. Even the smallest mistake can be costly.

You always want to stand out in an interview—just make sure it’s for a good reason! We’ll analyze some of the most frequent mistakes job seekers make in the quest for a new career. Commit these penalties at your own peril!

Arriving late

This is an obvious one, but you should make sure you’re able to be on time for your interview. Outside circumstances obviously happen, but account for potential hiccups by making extra time. It’s the best practice to arrive a few minutes early anyway. Make sure to research the proper route to the physical location, or make sure all distractions are accounted for if it’s a phone or video interview. Appearing unprepared is a great way to not get the job.

Not researching the organization

Speaking of a lack of preparation, if your early questions for your interviewer consist of “what does this company do?” or “what do you do here?” you’ve just shown your hand that you didn’t do prior research.

PushFar states “what do you know about our company?” as one of the most common questions you’ll be asked by an interviewer. While they may have their own spiel to give you about their organization, they’ll expect you to have done some research. Going into the interview blind gives an impression of a lack of interest and drive, and they may think you don’t care about the position.

We always recommend doing your prior research before getting to your interview, in fact, you should do this research before even applying to see if it’s a place you want to work for. Sophia Bernazzani says you can prove you’ve done your homework by asking questions related to the interviewer and their accomplishments.

“”I read that you helped launch a new product last year. How was that experience?”

Ask a question that shows you’ve done your research – and starts an interesting discussion.” -Sophia Bernazzani

In a similar vein, avoid saying “I don’t know” to any questions you’re asked. This shows not only a lack of preparation but creativity as well. Even if the question is tough, ask for a moment to gather your thoughts and at least try to come up with something.

Saying “It’s on my resume.”

When applying for jobs, needing to retype information easily found on your resume is a chore, and not every website has adapted to a modern job search. But when an interviewer asks about your past experiences, don’t refer them to your resume in a tiff. There’s a reason they are asking, and it doesn’t have to do with them not doing their research!

“If a recruiter is asking you about a certain skill, don’t reference your resume, and instead use it as your moment to shine.” –Nando Rodriguez, Ogilvy & Mather

Forbes’ Jack Kelly discusses that many job seekers will get offended and assume the interviewer isn’t prepared, but this isn’t the case. The interviewer wants to hear you communicate your skills and accomplishments and ideally relate them to how you’ll use them in this new position. They want to gauge your social skills and see how you articulate your abilities in person.

Letting the conversation become too casual

We’ve said that when an interview turns conversational, that’s usually a good time. Being able to connect with the hiring manager and prove you’ll be a good cultural fit is great, but recall that you’re still in an interview. Don’t mistake of letting things become too casual.

It’s never good to start dropping swears in an interview setting, even if the hiring manager does, reminds Sophia Bernazzani. Stay alert even when things take a personal turn, and make sure you won’t say anything you’ll regret just because you feel comfortable in the moment.

“You are less likely to use unprofessional language during an interview when you slow down, take your time to think about your response and focus on speaking clearly.” –Indeed

Badmouthing previous employers

This is a point we stress often, but it’s never a good idea to bash your previous employer, even if your last job was the actual worst. Think of it like dating—no one ever wants to hear their date talk about their ex the entire time.

The Muse says to at least focus on something you learned at your previous job while keeping a neutral or positive tone. While the interviewer will definitely ask about your previous job, they care most about what you can do for them. Focus on the future, not the past!

Wrap up

Even if some of these tips seem obvious, it can be easy to let a mistake slip in the heat of the moment. The more preparation you accomplish, the less likely you are to commit one of these errors. Self-awareness is at the heart of a good interview, and understanding the pitfalls other job seekers commonly make can help you avoid their unfortunate path.

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