How to get better at taking risks

How to get better at taking risksRisk is scary. Everything in human history has evolved to make us scared of risk. After all, time has taught us that risks can get you eaten by animals in the wild, or have you holding your head in despair while the stock market (with your bold investment in ostrich futures) tanks. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) But risk can also be rewarding when it comes to your career. If you feel like you could use a little more bravery, there are ways to rewire your thinking to make yourself more open to risk. Nothing too bold or daredevil-y (for now), thoughwell leave that to Richard Branson.Set your goals.The most effective risk-taking is tied to specific goals. Youre notlage doing something just for the sake of doing it, but rather to learn something, or overcome a particular issue, or advance to a milestone. If you want to start embracing more risks in order to improve your job position or your pay grade, it sta rts with clearly defining your career goals. If it means starting your own business, or going freelance after being a full-time corporate worker, its important to keep in mind that your ultimate goal is independence. As long as you have that goal in your head as the end result, it can make big jumps (like quitting your day job) easier to do.Do your research.Data makes you feel better. If youre thinking about switching jobs or changing careers altogether, the best thing you can do to validate the risk is gather as much information as you can. If youre thinking about making a significant investment and going back to school, what are the job stats for new graduates in your field? If youre thinking about asking for a raise, what are people at your level in your field making? It can also help you make an informed decision to walk away from the risk, tooits not just about talking yourself into doing something, but about understanding what youre about to do.Start small.Even with your big g oals in mind, set smaller milestones (and therefore smaller risks) to check off along the way. That way, youre not going all-in on something that feels big and scary because youve already made progress and smaller commitments toward that goal. For example, if youre thinking of starting your own business, begin by opening a business bank account or getting the paperwork started for an LLC. Those are significant steps, but not so frightening in and of themselves.Dont worry about being perfect.If youre taking a risk, you might think everything has to align perfectly for it to be successful. Not so Taking action is the truly important part. Hesitation over results can stop recovering perfectionists and overachievers in their steps. In the worst case scenario, youll failbut at least youll have tried and learned valuable lessons about what works and what doesnt.Risks dont have to be grand gestures that change everything forever. A risk can be something as simple as doing something out of your comfort zone. As long as you have a purpose and a plan behind you, youll find that taking risks isnt so scary after alland realize its something we can all learn to do smarter.

New Research Shows 18 Year Olds Are Becoming More Not Less Sexist

New Research Shows 18 Year Olds Are Becoming More Not Less Sexist Theres a lot of reason to be optimistic about gender equality. While the numbers offemale CEOsis still dismal, the number of women earning college and advanced degrees outpaces men, we have record number of women running for political office these days and the level of awareness and public discourse around feminism andgender equalityin the workplace feels like its never been higher.But while much hope has been pinned on the next generation ofmillennial men and women,researchreleased last week from the Council on Contemporary Families shows that attitudes among young people have become increasingly macker since the late 90s when their attitudes were most egalitarian.Specifically, since 1994, Council on Contemporary Families Director of Research, Stephanie Coontzwrites in the New York Timesthat the percentage of high school seniors who say that they think that the best family was one where the man was the main income e arner and the woman took care of the home rose from 42% to 58% in 2014. Moreover, 40% say they believe that the husband should make all the important decisions in the family in 2014 versus 30% a decade earlier.The only thing more discouraging than this is to learn thatseparate researchby the saatkorn organization found the same increase in sexist and traditional views of family gender roles in the past decade. In particular, they found that in 2014, 45% of men and 28% of women reported thinking a male-breadwinning family was the superior outcome, compared to only 17% of men and 15% of women in 1994. Thats a huge increase in the number of young men who believe they should be the primary earner in the family.The obvious question this raises is, why? Is there something about spending time onSnapchatthat makes teenagers more apt to believe that men and women should hold traditional roles at home and in the workplace? Or is it that they are the offspring of families withworking momsand d ads, and somehow feel they have been maligned as a consequence? Was it a backlash to the witnessed loss of traditional male financial, household control after the devastating job losses of the Great Recession? And is this simply something that will change as they age and become older and wiser?Coontz, noted that older millennials (men and women), too, seemed uncomfortable with the notion of a female Commander-in-Chief. According toexit poll datain the last U.S. President election, millennials just didnt turn out for Hillary Clinton. Were not sociologists but we are very, very worried about what this new data suggests. If women and men have to fight an ideological battleground in their future homes, this means a long road for women to getting to 50/50 parity at the top of corporations and governments.

4 Career-Changing Benefits of a Personalized Domain

4 Career-Changing Benefits of a Personalized Domain Looking for a job? Good news 2016 is the first time since the 2008 financial crisis that unemployment has dipped and remained below 5 percent. But with countless applicants flooding desirable openings, how can you grab top recruiters attention?Plastering your personenname on a billboard across the street from your dream employer wouldnt be cost-effective (though you would certainly stand out), and calling everyone in the company is more likely to get you blacklisted than hired. You could engage in some more extreme job seeking by trying thewildly unique solutions others have come up with, from turning your resume into a wanted posterto creating an official Amazon page for yourself.But not everyone has the skills to dazzle with design. As CMO for the registry operator of a new domain extension (.CLUB), I can suggest a simpler way to get noticed a personal domain name.How a Personal Domain Unlocks Do orsThese days, HR professionals are going to stalk I mean, Google you before making a hiring decision. This is a big reason why71 percent of surveyed job seekers say having a website is important to building a personal brand, and a smart domain name will make that website even more effective. Whats on the first page of search results for your name? What does an employer think when seeing your schmelzglas address?A unique and customized domain name for your personal website offers a great way to stand out from competitors submitting traditional paper resumes. Its an adjunct method of presenting yourself as a creative, cutting-edge innovator in the digital age.Done right, a personal domain boosts your digital presence in four ways, helping you1. Exude ProfessionalismYour personal domain is a banner proclaiming your professionalism. Do you think best-selling author Seth Godins blog would have become so popular if it were located at catlover323.com?If youre lucky, your own name may st ill be available as a .com domain. If it has been taken, consider using an alternative extension to add flair and meaning to your name in a web address. You can create a unique extension with your name, as WordPress cofounder Matt Mullenweg did for his personal website, ma.tt.Even if you dont build a flashy website, a personalized email address like firstnamelastname.com makes a great first impression. Your first communication with potential employers will likely be via email, so an address like lovestoparty451gmail.com is a one-way ticket to the trash folder. Luckily, new extensions such as .accountant, .photography, or .design can say a lot about who you are and what you do, and they can personalize your email address and domain name even further.2. Control the NarrativeDoes your digital presence say competent professional, or is it a bunch of selfies from your college days? While embarrassing photos remain on the web forever, a website with a personal domain can ensure they are nt first-page Google results.A personal domain influences how people find you on the internet. Using common search engine optimization strategies, you can rocket your professional website to the top of the search results. Consequently, when you control your domain, you minimize the risk of searchers stumbling across content that casts you in a less-than-stellar light.3. Consolidate Your ExperiencesIn todays gig economy, many people work on a contract basis, so a new project equals a new email address. The resulting inbox graveyard buries opportunities and annoys business contacts who have been emailing old addresses.As far back as 2002, folks were registering for personal domains to use when signing up for social sites. Today, you have more choices than ever to find the right domain for yourself. Even if youre not a temporary worker, you probably wont work for one company your entire life. Think of a personal domain as a long-term career investment.4. Direct Traffic From You Back to YourselfAlthough author Joshua Fields Millburn has built a strong presence on The Minimalists, he uses his personal domain to direct visitors to places he can be found online. And while musician Matisyahu is active on Dreampatron, he also promotes www.Matisyahu.club. Its an easy-to-remember URL that drives besucherzahlen to his profile on the music patronage site.Once youve crafted a website at your domain, be sure to connect it to your Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter profiles. If you have a personal blog, link to that, too. Consider your personal domain the online hub of your personal brand.For job seekers in the internet age, theres no better long-term branding tool than a personal domain. Its your permanent address on the internet, and now there are more opportunities than ever before to find a personal domain that says something about you, allowing you to truly stand out.Jeff Sass is the CMO of .CLUB Domains, LLC, operator of the new top-level domain .CLUB.

Experienced Customer Service Representative Resume Template 2018s Top Format

Experienced Customer Service Representative Resume Template 2018s Top FormatExperienced Customer Service Representative Resume Template - 2018s Top FormatCustomer tafelgeschirr jobs require individuals with excellent communication skills, and your resume is one way to show off your experience and ability to create well-written documents. A resume also shows you have some experience working with computers and word processing applications.A wide variety of industries call for customer service representatives. Include industry-specific prior positions youve held, and be sure to include any on-the-job training and classes that pertain to the position youre applying for. Your job summary should detail any phone systems youve worked with and what computer software programs youre proficient in or have any formal training in.Check out the link below for an experienced customer service representative resume template to assist you in creating a document that works. Create ResumeJanet Gray100 Main Street, Cityplace, CA, 91019Home (555) 322-7337 example-emailexample.comCareer OverviewHighly enthusiastic customer service professional with over three years client interface experience.Core StrengthsEnergetic work attitudeCourteous demeanorStrong organizational skillsActive listening skillsAdaptive team playerSeasoned in conflict resolutionCustomer service expertTelephone inquiries specialistAccomplishmentsCustomer ServiceResearched, calmed and rapidly resolved client conflicts to prevent loss of key accounts.Customer InterfaceGreeted customers upon entrance and handled all cash and credit transactions.Assisted customers over the phone regarding store operations, product, promotions and orders.Work ExperienceFront Office AssistantMarch 2007 to July 2011 Notary Document ServicesFt Lauderdale, FLCreated new processes and systems for increasing customer service satisfaction.Worked as a team member performing other duties, product assistance and cleaning.Promptly responded to ge neral inquiries from members, staff, and clients via mail, elektronischer brief and fax.Medical ReceptionistNovember 2005 to March 2007 Goldson Spine RehabPlantation, FLReplenishing shelves in patient rooms with items from the stockroom.Executed outbound calls to existing patients base resulting in 80 % increase in patient satisfaction.Accurately logged all daily shipping and receiving orders.Responsible for ringing up patients in a timely manner and guaranteeing high level of customer service.Guaranteed positive patient experiences and resolved all patient complaints.CashierApril 2004 to January 2005 PublixDania Beach, FLProcessed merchandise returns and exchanges.Organized the store by returning all merchandise to its proper place.Recommended, selected and helped locate merchandise based on customer needs and desires.Responsible for ringing up customers in a timely manner and guaranteeing high level of customer service.Educational BackgroundCertificate Administrative Assistant, 20 16 Middle Georgia TechWarner Robins, GA, United StatesCoursework in Business Administration and Organizational DevelopmentGED General Study, 2006 Lauderhill GED CenterLauderhill, FL, United StatesDiploma Medical Assisting, 2006 Concorde Career CollegeLauderdale Lakes, FL, United States Customize ResumeMore Customer Service Resume TemplatesEntry Level Customer Service Representative Resume Templates

How to increase emotional intelligence 5 powerful secrets

How to increase emotional intelligence 5 powerful secretsHow to increase emotional intelligence 5 powerful secretsEmotional Intelligence. Aleidher it theory of the moment. The medias panacea of the week. Another great thing we all need - that nobody binnenbinnenseems to be able to clearly define.I swear Im going to do a book of psychology buzzword mad libs (My mindful grit is emotionally intelligent due to the oxytocin in my mirror neurons). But I digress Heres the thing emotional intelligence is real - but that vague 2-sentence summary you read in an inflight magazine isnt accurate and wont give you what you need to improve this curious little skill set.So what is it really? (Im so glad you asked.) Its a concept that John Mayer of theUniversity of New Hampshire and Yale professorPeter Salovey came up with in the early 90s that was subsequently studied and popularized by Daniel Goleman. Heres Mayers definition.FromHarvard Business ReviewGuide to Emotional IntelligenceFrom a scienti fic standpoint, emotional intelligence is the ability to accurately perceive your own and others emotions to understand the signals that emotions send about relationships and to manage your own and others emotions.Now most of the work on emotional intelligence has been done around its effects in the workplace but itll quickly become obvious how it can improve most any area of your life. And, for the record, yeah, EI does work.FromHBRs 10 Must Reads on Emotional IntelligenceIn a 1996 study of a global food and beverage company, McClelland found that when senior managers had a critical mass of emotional intelligence capabilities, their teilens outperformed yearly earnings goals by 20%. Meanwhile, division leaders without that critical mass underperformed by almost the same amount. McClellands findings, interestingly, held as true in the companys U.S. divisions as in its divisions in Asia and Europe.And whats most interesting about EI is that as you move up the corporate ladder its imp ortance increases dramatically.FromHBRs 10 Must Reads on Emotional IntelligenceWhen I compared star performers with average ones in senior leadership positions, nearly 90% of the difference in their profiles was attributable to emotional intelligence factors rather than cognitive abilities.Research has shown EI has 5 component partes. Lets learn how to develop each one so that we can leverage its tremendous power toachieve global dominationimprove our lives at home and at work 1) Self-awarenessThis one is first and thats not random. Self-awareness is the most essential of emotional intelligence skills. Why?Becausewithout this guy youve got no way to evaluate what skills you have, what you lack and what you need to work on. Youre flying blind.So whats the formal definition?FromHBRs 10 Must Reads on Emotional IntelligenceSelf-awareness means having a deep understanding of ones emotions, strengths, weaknesses, needs, and drives. People with strong self-awareness are neither overly crit ical nor unrealistically hopeful. Rather, they are honest with themselves and with others. People who have a high degree of self-awareness recognize how their feelings affect them, other people, and their job performance.Want to know the best shortcut for identifying if someone is high in self-awareness or not?FromHBRs 10 Must Reads on Emotional IntelligenceOne of the hallmarks of self-awareness is a self-deprecating sense of humor.To make fun of yourself - and get a laugh - you have to know yourself and how you are perceived.So how do you increase self-awareness?Get feedback. You dont always see yourself accurately. And this friend or that friend doesnt always see you accurately. But if you survey five or ten pals, youre going see someveryaccurate trends.FromInsight other people generally see us more objectively than we see ourselves. Psychologist Timothy Smith and his colleagues powerfully demonstrated this in a study with 300 married couples in which both partners were being te sted for heart disease. They asked each participant to rate both their own and their partners levels of anger, hostility, and argumentativeness- all strong predictors of the illness- and found that peoples self-ratings were infinitely less accurate than those of their spouses. Another study asked more than 150 Navy officers and their subordinates to rate the officers leadership style, and found that only the subordinates could accurately assess their bosses performance and promotability.(To learn more about the science of a successful life, check out my bestselling bookhere.)So you see yourself more accurately. Thats great, but we all know someone who is aware theyre a jerk - and yet keeps acting like a jerk. So what do we need to complement our new self-knowledge?2) Self-regulationI love when people say, Imvery emotional. I must have very high emotional intelligence. Sorry, being very emotional doesnt make you high in EI it just makes you a drama queen.However, being able toregula teyour emotions is a big part of EI. People who are wise and warm dont impulsively respond to things or act without thinking.FromHBRs 10 Must Reads on Emotional IntelligenceBiological impulses drive our emotions. We cannot do away with them - but we can do much to manage them. Self-regulation, which is like an ongoing inner conversation, is the component of emotional intelligence that frees us from being prisoners of our feelings. People engaged in such a conversation feel bad moods and emotional impulses just as everyone else does, but they find ways to control them and even to channel them in useful ways.People who can self-regulate make better decisions, are more resilient, and act with more integrity. (They also tend not to eat an entire box of donuts in one sitting while obsessively checking Instagram, but this finding has yet to be supported by the literature.)Mindfulnessis an excellent, science-backed way to self-regulate. And while a full explanation of it is wayyyy beyond the scope of this post (you can get more infohere) a little mini-meditation can be a big help.Next time you feel your emotions surging, turn your attention to your breath. Focus on it going in and out. When your mind wanders, return your attention to your breath. Give it 10-20 seconds at first.Neuroscience says even a little bit cancalm those feelings and get your head on straight.FromAltered Traits Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Brain, and BodyAs these stressful thoughts were presented, the patients used either of two different attentional stances mindful awareness of their breath or distraction by doing mental arithmetic. Only mindfulness of their breath both lowered activity in the amygdala- mainly via a faster recovery- and strengthened it in the brains attentional networks, while the patients reported less stress reactivity.(To learn the 3 secrets neuroscience says will make you more emotionally intelligent, clickhere.)So you know yourself and you can contr ol yourself. But what EI component allows us to actually accomplish something with all that personal power?3) MotivationYup, motivation is a part of EI. But we need to put a spin on the definition. Chasing money or promotions isnt a sign of emotional intelligence. EI means having anintrinsicdesire to achieve and accomplish things.FromHBRs 10 Must Reads on Emotional IntelligencePlenty of people are motivated by external factors, such as a big salary or the status that comes from having an impressive title or being part of a prestigious company. By contrast, those with leadership potential are motivated by a deeply embedded desire to achieve for the sake of achievement.So how do we boost motivation? Track your accomplishments.Teresa Amabiles research at Harvard found that the single mostmotivating thing is progression in meaningful work. So when you move the needle forward, take note.ViaThe Progress Principle Using Small Wins to Ignite Joy, Engagement, and Creativity at WorkThis patte rn is what we call the progress principle of all the positive events that influence inner work life, the single most powerful is progress in meaningful work of all the negative events, the single most powerful is the opposite of progress- setbacks in the work.Keep a list of everything youve accomplished today where you can see it.When I spoke tobestsellingauthorJosh Kaufman, he said a did-it list is one of his primary productivity tools.(To learn how to be more motivated - from motivation master Dan Pink - clickhere.)So the first three parts of emotional intelligence are about self-management. The next two are about how to deal with others. So where do we start?4) EmpathyYoure familiar with the word - but this one is actually a bit tricky.FromHBRs 10 Must Reads on Emotional IntelligenceThe ability to understand the emotional makeup of other people. Skill in treating people according to their emotional reactions.So why is it tricky? Because its a balance. Too little - or toomuch- can cause problems.FromHarvard Business ReviewGuide to Emotional IntelligenceThose whose sympathetic feelings become too strong may themselves suffer. In the helping professions, this can lead to compassion fatigue in executives, it can create distracting feelings of anxiety about people and circumstances that are beyond anyones control. But those who protect themselves by deadening their feelings may lose touch with empathy.Dont worry theres a solution. The research says there are actually three distinct types of empathyEmotional empathy You feel awful? Then I feel awful tooCognitive empathy I understand that you are feeling awful. That must suck.Compassion You feel awful? I feel for you. How can I help?All three have their place. You want friends and family to have emotional empathy. You want someone to really feel what you feel when youre down or to be thrilled with you when youre up.However you dont want your surgeon crying so hard about your tumor that they cant perform the o peration. You want them to have cognitive empathy.And we can all do better with more compassion. With compassion we feelfor, notwith. And this drives us to want to help, while not emotionally impairing us from helping. Compassion is what we want to focus on for EI.So how do you increase it? By using Loving-Kindness Meditation. Yes, with a name like that youd expect it to be taught to you by woodland fairies. Relax.ResearchbyEmma Seppalaat Stanford shows it works.The best instructions Ive found (that have no scientific jargon or mentions of elves)come from10% Happier, the excellent book byDan Harris1. This practice involves picturing a series of people and sending them good vibes. Start with yourself. Generate as clear a mental image as possible.2. Repeat the following phrases May you be happy, May you be healthy, May you be safe, May you live with ease. Do this slowly. Let the sentiment land. You are not forcing your well-wishes on anyone youre just offering them up, just as you wou ld a cool drink. Also, success is not measured by whether you generate any specific emotion. As Sharon says, you dont need to feel a surge of sentimental love accompanied by chirping birds. The point is to try. Every time you do, you are exercising your compassionmuscle. (By the way, if you dont like the phrases above, you can make up your own.)3. After youve sent the phrases to yourself, move on to a benefactor (a teacher , mentor, relative), a close friend (can be a pet, too), a neutral person (someone you see often but dont really ever notice), a difficult person, and, finally, all beings.Dont get too worried about details.Its not a magic spell and this aint Hogwarts. You can customize it. The important thing is wishing others well and expanding that feeling from those you feel strongly about to a wider and wider circle of people.(To learn the seven-step morning ritual that will make you happy all day, clickhere.)Four out of five. Not bad at all. And number five actually assemble s those prior four together to turn you into aVoltron ofemotional intelligence5) Social skillSocial skills means the ability to build rapport and manage relationships - with a goal in mind.That doesnt make it Machiavellian. Think of the concepts of leadership or parenting. Both are relationships, but both also have a purpose greaterthan merely enjoying the other persons company.FromHBRs 10 Must Reads on Emotional IntelligenceSocial skill, rather, is friendliness with a purpose moving people in the direction you desire, whether thats agreement on a new marketing strategy or enthusiasm about a new product. Socially skilled people tend to have a wide circle of acquaintances, and they have a knack for finding common ground with people of all kinds-a knack for building rapport.So how do you build EI social skills? Luckily, this one is easy. Seriously. Not that becoming socially adept is simple - its actually quite complex.But that said, if you have made big strides in the first four, t his fifth component of EI tends to grow on its own without much effort.FromHBRs 10 Must Reads on Emotional IntelligenceSocial skill is the culmination of the other dimensions of emotional intelligence. People tend to be very effective at managing relationships when they can understand and control their own emotions and can empathize with the feelings of others. Even motivation contributes to social skill. Remember that people who are driven to achieve tend to be optimistic, even in the face of setbacks or failure. When people are upbeat, their glow is cast upon conversations and other social encounters. They are popular, and for good reason. Because it is the outcome of the other dimensions of emotional intelligence, social skill is recognizable on the job in many ways that will by now sound familiar. Socially skilled people, for instance, are adept at managing teams-thats their empathy at work. Likewise, they are expert persuaders-a manifestation of self-awareness, self-regulation, and empathy combined.(And if there are specific elements of social skills you want to work on heres how tomake friends, toget people to like you, tonetwork, toread people, andhow to be someone people love to talk to.)So work on the first four components of EI and then spend more time with others, facing new challenges. Self-aware, self-regulated, motivated people with empathy mostly just need practice to build their social skills.(To learn 6 rituals from ancient wisdom that will make you happy, clickhere.)Alright, your EI burns so bright Im gonna need sunscreen. Lets round it all up and learn the final critical point that will help you be more emotionally intelligentSum upHeres how to increase emotional intelligenceSelf-awareness I should have posted this earlier in the week. When Im really busy with super-important stuff or, um,when I see a cute puppy video on YouTube, I know blogging gets delayed.Self-regulation You need to cool it with the puppy videos, Eric. Next time, we only watch the tiny Husky puppy howl like a little wolfonce, and then we do a mini-meditation and get back to work. Seriously.Motivation I have an Excel spreadsheet of puppy videos watched, mini-meditations done, and how often the blog posts have been completed on time. More posting, more meditating, fewer howling, insanely cute puppies.Empathy Im not going to beat myself up about this. The post still got done. Im happy with it. And that puppy video was really cute. Im showing some self-compassion here. Also, Im including the puppy in my Loving-Kindness Meditation today. May the little guy live with ease.Social skills Enough about me and my addiction how areyou?So whats the final thing you need to know about EI?Balance.We need to work on all of the skills and then we need to make sure they worktogether.Does this sound like I made a hard process evenharder? Dont worry.You dont need to score 100% in any component.In fact, you dont want to. Like I said, too much empathy can be a problem. It can lead to emotional fatigue. By the same token, John Mayer, one of the originators of EI, says too much self-awareness can even be a problem.FromHarvard Business ReviewGuide to Emotional IntelligenceIn fact, too much self-awareness can reduce self-esteem, which is often a crucial component of great leadership.So improve all the components and then focus on finding the balance between them that works for you. You dont need to be perfect at any one of them. The symphony is more about how the musicians play together than how great any one of them is.Knowing yourself, controlling yourself and motivating yourself. Feeling for others and having the skills to connect with them. This is what allows you to accomplish great things at work and to give your loved ones what they need.(Even if what they need is just an adorablepuppy video.)Join over 320,000 readers.Get a free weekly update via emailhere.Related postsNew Neuroscience Reveals 4 Rituals That Will Make You HappyNew Harvard Researc h Reveals A Fun Way To Be More SuccessfulHow To Get People To Like You 7 Ways From An FBI Behavior ExpertThis column first appeared at Barking Up the Wrong Tree.

7 Ways to Get Ahead at Work Without Saying a Word

7 Ways to Get Ahead at Work Without Saying a Word7 Ways to Get Ahead at Work Without Saying a WordYou probably already know that communication is much more than just the words you say. So it makes sense that getting ahead at the office requires some strategic non-verbal interactions.What do we mean? Well, our friends at Refinery29 and LearnVest put together seven small, research-backed ways you can impress at work without saying a word. For example, try mimicking your boss behaviorAccording to a study out of Duke University, subtle forms of mimicry can prove useful when youre trying to win someone over. Its known as the chameleon effect because, in the saatkorn way that a chameleon changes the color of its skin to match the environment, people can change behaviors and mannerisms to mirror the person who theyre interacting with. From perfecting your handshake to smiling when youre stressing out, start putting these tips into practice- and see what kind of impact it has on your career. See the Tips NowPhoto courtesy of Refinery29 and Jenny Kraemer.

5 ways to transition into a new career

5 ways to transition into a new career5 ways to transition into a new careerCareer transitions can be a bumpy ride you leave the familiar routines of your daily job responsibilities and suddenly everythings up in the air again, just like it was at the beginning.While career changes are not for the faint of heart, and can take a long time and a lot of hard work, the benefits of sticking with it to move into something that will be a better long-term fit for you are priceless.Heres what you should keep in mind as you navigate through both familiar (and unfamiliar) territory.Save, save, saveYoull need a lot of money to stay afloat for as long as it takes to land the right next job, so it makes sense to abflug saving while youre still employed - before you make the leap.LearnVest founder Alexa von Tobel writes about creating a financial cushion for herself in a TIME article.When I started my company, I had to go without a regular paycheck in order to get everything off the ground. I used my emergency savings- I called it my freedom fund- to support myself. Generally, I recommend at least six months of take-home pay as an emergency fund, but if youre planning a career change, Id suggest at least 12 months worth, to help you cover costs without having to take a job you dont actually want, she writes.Remember that youre more than your jobYoure a human being with strengths, weaknesses and a whole life outside of work. So think about whats important to you in this process. After all, this is a second shot at getting what you really want in your career, right?A 2014 Gallup poll found that more than half of U.S. employees get a sense of identity from their job- while just 42% think work is what they do to pay the bills.Its no surprise that something that fills so much of our daily life can become part of our persona. But try not to get caught up in the idea that your job ultimately defines you, particularly when youre dealing with the disorienting feeling of a work trans ition.In other words, work shouldnt be all you have.Rely on your networkBefore you can get a firm understanding of the industry youre trying to break into, do everything you can to research it.Read up on news articles, industry research and books, but also tap into your network - reconnecting with friends or extended networks to find people who work in the field youre now pursuing. Ask them for insight about the nature of the industry, invite them to an informational interview to get tips, and solicit insight about any events or professional networks you should sign up for.Then, get out there. Head to networking events, join clubs and affinity groups with people who are passionate about the same things as you, and get outside your comfort zone by looking to speak to those who can also challenge your perspectives.Monitor your progressIf youre only judging the passage of time by your proximity to the next job, youre going to start to lose track of your actual, incremental progress.In stead, consider setting smaller benchmarks to help keep yourself motivated - and organized - as you move forward.Respect yourself enough to track the effort. Monitor how youre doing and what you need to be doing next. Set up reminders so you follow up on things when you need to,Jenny Foss, a career strategist and recruiter who quit her job in corporate communications and now runs the blog JobJenny.com, writes inThe Muse.If youre going to invest time and energy to make this happen, invest the time and energy to track your progress, she adds, suggesting a simple Excel spreadsheet will do you wonders.If youre not an Excel person, use the tool that makes the most sense to you so you dont abandon ship on it, she says.Dont forget about your current strengthsChances are, you already have a wealth of knowledge in another area, so dont shortchange yourself.Before she launched the reusable water bottle company Swell, Founder and CEO Sarah Kauss spent time in financial and real estate fields , she saidin Fortune.She said the skils she learned in each industry served her well on the next.No matter where you go, you have the opportunity to build on existing skills and find opportunities to create new ones. By understanding what capabilities youre fostering and being open to how they can be used moving forward, youll always set yourself up for success, Kauss said.This takes the pressure off of making a career-move mistake and allows you to look at each position as a positive opportunity for growth.