Sense of Belonging

By: Eileen Rachman & Sylvina Savitri

In a meeting at the client company, there was tension of losses that can not be inevitable. Sue customers, while companies have to spend a lot of money when his pass. We feel no responsibility in the hands of one hundred percent personal or division, everyone was silent, did not take the initiative to take risks. No one tried to take control of what is essentially a mutual accountability.

At times like this, then felt that often there is the burden of responsibility for a larger and broader in front of the eye. We have a choice: Will it be silent when the company threatened? Does the company during the crisis, we just want to be a component or stand in front? Are the men of corruption, there appears superiors and recognized it as her fault less supervision? Is the event of the collapse of the bridge, there are officials who do not just make excuses and explanations, but imply guilt? Strength chose to enlarge the burden of responsibility and accountability to expand this coverage is often mentioned as the 'sense of belonging' or 'sense of belonging'.

Testing the sense of belonging

'The sense of belonging' can be felt and tested in many situations. Through campaigns and groups who have common sense and thinking for example, we see a gang of people supported the action: "I'm proud to be one of Indonesia". In the company, to increase efficiency and productivity, lots of loud parties in meetings and brainstorming about solutions, innovations, policy and ways for teams and companies to remain competitive. This is the expression of a sense of belonging. However, the sense of having a more distant, it is tested if the errors, losses, big risk also "owned" in a concrete individual, in the form of action.

Slogans need to be tested with the reality of how we direct sleeves to help victims of disasters without much analysis and comment. In the company's financial situation is tight, what our reaction time and facilities trimmed salary cut? We need to make sacrifices, such as budgetary units cut, trimmed facilities, sometimes out the statement: 'Why did I?'. Individuals who have good ownership, it would have spontaneously said: 'If not me, who else? "This is where the greatness of soul, courage will be reflected in the automated accountability, without thinking.

Should Blame Weather?

A company that is promoting the leadership program, complained logjam employee development programs. We discussed the root of the problem, many employees say that the leadership of a dominant firm, intelligent, observant but not much protecting the one who caused the bad situation. Flood of complaints and even a bit cynical comment-less directed to the leadership of the company, eventually an adverse impact on their own individual development. By focusing on the bad situation, the control center within the individual delayed. Individuals quickly feel helpless. As a result, the motor that moves away to feel the 'sense of urgency' and the ambition to become better, paralyzed.

We do not blame the weather, reading the 'wind' and kissed the atmosphere, but the driving force within us as individuals we need to turn on us even optimize to avoid wear. Find a scapegoat in a work situation or in a conjugal relationship, just close our chances to develop themselves in the long run.

Confessing One, rather than admit defeat

When Alan Greenspan urged the U.S. Congress and directly asked: "Are you guilty?" Of the global crisis, he replied: "Yes, some of it". We'll see how pamornya that for years admired the world because their thoughts are bright, vanished because the answer is as if trying not to allocate fault wider than kongkritnya action. Let's say a big name like that can take responsibility and assume that the crisis is largely his fault, precisely the world will have more sympathy and respect. Recognition of personal fault or negligence, not a sudden drop fame, could even be an act of chivalry that can build credibility, trust and can carry a team to take corrective action themselves together. Sense of belonging not only felt if the institution or the State are safe, but just when someone chooses to go forward and say: "It was my fault".

Plead guilty, sometimes heavy as if conceding defeat. However, plead guilty badang pairs, in fact very closely connected with the 'sense of belonging' which is often touted people. We'll see how many leaders or former leaders vying to claim the success that he made in his time, but the responsibilities throwing each other when raised about the policy mistakes or decisions that he made.

If someone can admit mistakes, he will automatically put more effort into taking action on issues that are in 'scope', more freely allocate repair and replace the direction for further success. Of course the apology is not to be expected without appreciation, without sincerity, or even as a means to avoid the opening of a deeper fault. An apology, especially those out of a leader is the practice of evidence or reasoning. Opened with a statement of recognition of their responsibilities, a leader actually easier to manage the risk, open-minded people around, opening a deeper discussion, open and honest for the sake of "corrective actions".

Translated from: http://jobs.experd.com/articles/page/157/

Other Articles :

1. Saying NO to Your Boss
2. Is it Time to Quit?
3. 5 Ways to Get Better Compensation
4. 7 Worst Career Mistakes You Can Make
5. Remembering Names and What to Do When You Forget

10 Careers to Avoid Boredom

By Rachel Zupek

No matter where you are, boredom is one of the worst things ever. But, arguably, the worst place you can be bored is at work.

Boredom at work is the result of several things. Maybe your company is scaling back on hiring and, maybe, your responsibilities. Maybe you're an entry-level worker and your boss doesn't trust you enough yet to give you actual work. Or maybe your job is just tedious and you're totally uninterested in your tasks.

Whatever the reason, it's time to make a change. When you spend 40-plus hours doing mind-numbing work, you're bound to be miserable.

If you're looking for work that is anything but dull, check out these 10 careers that are sure to keep you on your toes.

1. Airline attendant
It's hard to be bored when you're a jet-setter, don't you think? Flight attendants are constantly on the move, working around the clock, year round and on nights, weekends and holidays, traveling to various places. During their working hours, they ensure that passengers follow safety and security regulations, while doing their best to guarantee travelers a comfortable flight. It seems that the only down time they have is during takeoff, landing and on their days off -- when a little boredom might be welcome.
Salary: $63,913/year

2. Buyer
Anyone who specializes in retail therapy can tell you, shopping is not boring. In all seriousness, buyers essentially shop for living, picking out what clothes are in demand, in style, determining what will sell and figuring out the amount of product their establishments should have in stock. To be successful, buyers must be on the pulse of fashion, keeping up with latest trends, competitor pricing, sales levels and consumer buying patterns.
Salary: $58,407/year

3. Event planner
Some call it stressful, others call it energizing, but no one calls it boring. Event planners are always on the go, dealing with several people, operations and vendors at the same time. They work under strict deadlines, travel to event sites, attend endless meetings and work long days and weekends. Event planners are usually arranging more than one event at time, which means they do all of these things times two (or three, maybe four).
Salary: $76,374/year

4. Food and beverage server
I was a server for a few years in college and while I admit that there were some slow days at work, for the most part, I was constantly busy. The key to not being bored as a server is finding a popular bar or restaurant, engaging with customers and working on days when you know you'll be busy, like weekends, game days or holidays. Running food and drinks from table to table, closing out tabs, dealing with complaints, cleaning up after patrons -- it never ends.
Salary: $19,013/year

5. Futurist
Although this career is uncommon, it's perfect for anyone who likes variety, research and curiosity. What do they do exactly? Futurists examine the present for clues to changes that the future may bring. Usually, they work as consultants to companies to help them foresee possible business changes and adjust accordingly. They are constantly researching reports, statistics, trends and other predictors to help them forecast different paths the future could take.
Salary: $98,603/year (consultant)

6. Nonprofit fundraiser
Fundraisers for nonprofit organizations have the daunting task of finding money and gifts to keep an association thriving. After all, just because nonprofits don't make money doesn't mean they don't have expenses. Fundraisers look for capital contributions and endowments, and plan events to help garner donations for a cause. Raising money is the difference between the organization' s ability to start new projects and continue existing ones, so it's essential they are on top of things.
Salary: $68,145/year

7. Journalist
As a general rule, reporters and broadcasters eat, breathe and sleep the news -- and as any journalist will tell you, the news never sleeps. Whether they're following a lead, reporting breaking news or are operating under a tight deadline, journalists must be ready for anything at a moment's notice.
Salary: $48,206/year (reporter); $40,510 (news broadcaster)

8. Casino worker
Most casinos are open 24 hours, seven days a week, which means there is always work to be done. Whether you're a gaming dealer, slot key personnel, a security guard or a manager, you are constantly dealing with someone or something, which leaves minimal down time.
Salary: Various

9. Registered nurse
Health-care positions in general are always go, go, go; but nurses might take the cake. Often caring for several patients at the same time, RNs are frequently running from room to room, administering medications, answering call buttons, talking to families, making patients comfortable, updating charts and attending to the various needs of doctors, patients and families.
Salary: $66,427/year

10. Public relations manager
Public relations managers specialize in protecting and promoting their client's image or brand. Anything that is written, broadcasted or published about an organization must go through the PR team, as do any scheduled appearances or interviews. They are responsible for making sure their client's name stays reputable; putting out fires (so to speak); issuing statements when necessary; drafting press releases; pitching their client to media outlets and so much more.
Salary: $89,683/year

Make a Bad Job Good for You: Four Tips

By Kate Lorenz

If you're like most professionals, you had to go through some trial and error to get to a job that was right for you. Most of us have had at least one really rotten job in our careers and many may still be complaining about a current bad situation. But successful professionals learn how to turn lousy situations into opportunities. The following tips can help you make lemonade out of the career "lemons" you have been handed.

1. Think outside your cubicle.

Mark Mehler is one of the founders of CareerXroads, a recruiting technology and consulting firm. Mehler says that often a person with a bad job is unhappy with the position and not necessarily the company. If your work problems stem from personality conflicts or issues isolated to your position, don't throw the baby out with the bath water. Mehler suggests investigating other options within your company. "Find your niche rather than just giving up," he says. He suggests using your time at the company to network with executives, find a mentor and learn about other departments with the intent that you can transfer into a better position.

2. Take what you need.

Every job, no matter what it is, gives you something very important: experience. Don't write off the job as a situation that has nothing to offer. "Use it as a stepping stone, even if it is a bad job," Mehler says. The trick is to look at this experience in the right way. "You need to look at what skills you are learning or what's around you to enrich your job," he says. For example, you may just be answering phones and running errands all day, but this means that you are gaining valuable communication and organizational skills. You'll be able to beef up your résumé and be more valuable to a potential employer.

3. Take note of what you do not like.

One of the best things you can know when you are searching for a job is what you do not want. Yes, you might be working for the boss from hell, but the struggle will teach you what to stay away from the next time. If you're employed by a company with questionable practices, you will learn how to better choose an employer. Or, you also might learn what job descriptions to avoid. You may want to run screaming from your nightmare, but don't do it without knowing what makes the job so bad.

4. Take advantage of opportunities only available in the workplace.

Many companies offer training classes, seminars and other professional development opportunities to employees. Take advantage of these career boosters. Mehler says you should try to learn additional skills to enhance the job you're in and the job you hope to get. Sign up for company-sponsored training sessions and courses and ask for more responsibility to learn new skills. "Try to expand on the things you want to do and like to do," Mehler says. The key is to not sit around waiting for opportunities to find you. "Go get what you want," he says.

The bottom line is that every situation is what you make of it, Mehler asserts. You can choose to go to work every day and wait for a better opportunity, or you can proactively learn from the experience.

When to Disobey the Boss

By Eve Tahmincioglu

Recently, the manager of an Abercrombie & Fitch store in Virginia Beach decided to keep, what some deemed, risqué photos of models hung up on his store walls even though local police told him to take the pictures down.

Why didn’t he listen to the cops? Because the manager’s corporate bosses asked him to display the photos.

The manager ended up with a citation by the local authorities and faced possible jail time and a fine.

While the charges were eventually dropped, this event serves as a great lesson for all employees out there. You don’t have to do everything your boss tells you to, especially if it runs afoul of the law.

Clearly, breaking the law can get you in real trouble, but blindly following orders and engaging in illegal or unethical activities on the job can wreak havoc on your career and possibly hurt other people.

Take Barbara, a Denver-based senior underwriter for a major mortgage company.

Over a two year period, she was asked by her manager to sign off on home loans for individuals that she knew were not worthy of loans because of their questionable credit and employment backgrounds.

“I determined that the information these people provided wasn’t accurate, or questionable but my manager would say, ‘let it go,’” says Barbara, who declined to use her full name.

After months of doing what she felt in her gut wasn’t right, she became depressed as she began to hear about people who were losing their homes because of loan defaults.

So, this past fall, she decided to take a stand and wrote a letter to the company’s human resource department even though she thought she was jeopardizing her job. "I couldn't take it anymore," she explained, still a hint of agony in her voice.

The real estate industry, says Ralph R. Roberts, author of “Protect Yourself from Real Estate and Mortgage Fraud,” is rife with these types of scenarios that began with the housing boom and have only gotten worse as management at many of these firms become desperate to get business in a housing slump.

But it’s not just real estate.

Workers in a host of sectors are feeling pressure to compromise their ethics standards, or break the law, according to Patricia Harned, president of the Ethics Resource Center, an independent research organization. Among the top industries where this is seen are entertainment, hotel and food services, transportation, retail, and healthcare, just to name a few.

“There is no question that supervisors and management have a tremendous amount of influence on employees’ decisions on how they handle tough situations,” Harned says.

Overall, about 10 percent of employees report they feel pressured to compromise their standards in order to do their jobs, and of those 69 percent say the pressure is coming for their immediate supervisor, Harned notes.

“We have certainly seen this situation getting worse as far as the number of instances where employees are seeing misconduct happening around them and feeling pressure to compromise standards themselves. It is on the rise and very worrisome,” she explains.

Difficult economic times, she adds, are contributing to the increase. “There is a lot of pressure to increase profits, keep the company going. Workers want to bring value to the company and do well in their jobs.”

Typically, in a large organization, when serious wrongdoing occurs, at least ten to 15 people are probably involved or know what’s going on, says Richard Cellini of Integrity Interactive, a company that provides businesses with ethics policy tools.

“Someone sets it in motion, usually someone with authority, but they don’t do the work themselves. They pass it on. The people who do it are usually the staff. They do what they’re told,” he explains.

In most cases, he adds, workers are doing bad things for what they deem are good reasons – to help the company, help the team, etc. “And in the overwhelming majority of cases, they are either responding directly to a request from a boss, or what they think their boss wants them to do,” he says.

But workers who engage in illegal activity are going to have a weak leg to stand on when law enforcement comes a knocking. “My boss made me do it,” is a defense that doesn’t tend to hold up in court, legal experts say.

“It’s like the Nuremberg defense,” says Nancy Cornish, an employment lawyer with Denver-based Kissinger & Fellman, referring to the “only following orders” legal defense used by some of the Nazi officers who were tried by the Allies in Nuremberg, Germany, after World War II.

The question is, she explains, if you’re acting within the scope of your job duties but you do something illegal, who is liable, you or your employer? Unfortunately, in many cases, the employee can be liable, she says.

“When a bouncer assaults a patron on instructions from the club owner the prosecutor is going to tell the bouncer, ‘I don’t care,’’ she points out. “If a pizza delivery guy goes down a residential street at 80 miles an hour should he get a ticket,” she asks, even though his boss tells him to speed in order to expedite deliveries? “Yes,” she notes.

In one case, Cornish’s client, a trucking company, sent a delivery man to a neighborhood early in the morning to make a drop off, but the community restricted morning deliveries. The truck driver ended up with a ticket.

While the trucking firm took care of the situation for its employee, she says, the driver in this case would have ended up holding the bag if his employer hadn’t stepped in.

If you refuse to do something illegal, and you’re fired or demoted because you report it to HR or law enforcement, you’ll likely be protected under whistle blower laws. But claiming after the fact, when the authorities start rounding up the parties involved, that you were told to do it but didn’t want to probably won’t hold up in court.

“An employee can’t disagree in silence with the practice,” says Jon Meer, chair of the Employment and Labor Group for DLA Piper US in Los Angeles.

Bottom line, says Barbara Repa, author of “Your Rights in the Workplace”, “no one gets to break the law, and you don’t get to hide behind the skirts of employers.”

When you’re being asked to do something that just doesn’t feel right, Repa suggests you talk to your supervisor about it. If, however, you believe your job could be at risk by talking to your boss, go above his or her head and find someone you trust who has integrity, or go to your human resources department.

You can also go to local authorities, and under whistleblower laws have your identity remain anonymous.

Depending on what the illegal activity is, there are a variety of government agencies you can go to, Repa says. If it involves a work safety issue you should contact OSHA. If it’s an issue of discrimination you can contact the EEOC. If it’s something that could put someone in harm’s way, or involves fraud, local police, or the FBI or the SEC might be the best avenue.

Barbara, the underwriter from Colorado, went to her HR department and the company launched an investigation. The manager that asked her to sign off on bad loans was subsequently fired, and new policies were implemented to prevent similar situations.

Looking back, she says, she would have reported the problem earlier.

“We are so overwhelmed trying to meet our own financial requirements for our kids and our families, that we tend to go along with employers,” she says. “You have a right to say ‘no’. I should have pushed back right away.”

Tips on Improving Career

by La Rose from book Top Secretary

1. Personal Learning; To Improve ability. Often, low self-esteem emerged, partly because we feel inadequate or there is something missing. This is reflected in the sentence that we say or sentence in our minds, not words that can hurt the stone us. Here sentence I have ever read. However, we need to look at sentences that we speak our minds. Let us follow the sentences below. Oops something I do not call me an executive assistant, I'm just a secretary. Actually your calling as an executive assistant they give you an opportunity to increase career. You doubt it could be because of lack of confidence. For that, what you should do is to evaluate which parts you need to improve. Do not ever sell yourself alone.

The sentence has the energy. Something that constantly say will become a reality. Be the person who likes to learn, then the sentences that you say will also change. At least, not lower yourself.

Changes take place very quickly. We can not reap the success only by relying on the knowledge we have today. Therefore, university life is always in learning, who stopped him to resign.

2. Courage To Change, Do Reformation. I've filed a request to my boss to be placed in other departments as increased career. However, I hesitate because of my current job no less. My materially spoiled my family boss. I get a lot of convenience. However, I am frankly fed up with work that is routine. Meanwhile, I actually can do things better to give more opportunities to become manager, but I was a bit doubtful I will succeed?. Are you going to succeed or not, go back to your own. Indeed, easiness does not always give satisfaction. So, you have to choose. You must have the courage to change. It is a challenge because of changes characterized by uncertainty. Therefore, often a person chooses to be a coward better than change.

3. Sincerity I really wanted to go. For ten years I worked odd jobs so I do not know if I or the secretary general. My boss is very dependent on me, what it needs, up to the doctors who take care of me. His family is also very dependent on me. Indeed there is virtually no material needs unmet. However, I am frankly very tired. Instead I began to see that more enslaved. Just imagine, my boss's wife behaves as if he was also my boss and lately my health is very disturbed.

Quite a lot of talented people to become Head of Section, Managers, and other important positions. Still, the secretary for more routine work.

Phone notes, make an appointment for your boss, taking care of incoming and outgoing mail, handle the needs of employers to the level of the family shopping for the boss because they so hard-working and willing to do anything. Hence, they become very necessary.

4. Responsible For Environmental Self makes me down. Imagine how my friends would go if that discussed only the shopping; picnic; boyfriends, or men who can be a foster father, in the sense of the word, can consistently provide financial assistance as well as a date. While I really wanted to do something else. I want to work in other parts, but I do not know how to begin. My friends are satisfied with their situation, even laughed at me when I casually say about the desire to do something else.

We can not let the journey of life is determined by the environment. Environment will not change if we do not change. We must take responsibility for what happens to ourselves. When with friends, start talking about the topic you are also interested and not just the topics they are interested.

Who knows, they also actually have an interest as you to do something different. It's just that they do not entirely understand. If they do not change then you have to change. Find new friends and new environment. Because it should not, we are so sunk with the group that only makes us feel depressed. So, do not get used to looking for a scapegoat.

In a sense, blame others or circumstances for our slump. The story of this black sheep came from Greece. In the past, if there is plague found black goats. Animals are innocent pray with a variety of spells and then sacrificed / slaughtered. There also are isolated in the woods. With the black sheep, we are not looking for origins of disease / epidemic, we are not responsible anymore.

Because if you want to be responsible means to do something. In fact required to work hard. Meanwhile, not enough people are lazy. Not to mention doing something, was tired and desperate.

5. Think Positive, Stay away from Bad Prejudice. I ask for help if he was Head of Human Resources can put me on the more the challenge, rather than just receive and answer phones, greet guests, and typing. I thought she was a woman who had experienced. He was far above me and would like to help me. Apparently, not as I expected. The answer is really painful. He said, skills are what you are doing now. This is the most suitable job for you. If you want to move to the desired place, you need to learn more.

Translated from : http://zulidamel.wordpress.com/2008/03/15/kiat-kiat-meningkatkan-karier/#comment-1781