As workplaces and work practices change, the need for agile work environments is increasing. Agile work environments are built on the philosophies and values that a business holds dear. By knowing their goals and the culture they are going for, businesses can put in place various measures that make their workplaces more agile. Agile workplaces focus on flexibility and productivity, putting measures in place to ensure employees have the flexibility to work how they feel they would be most productive. So, what are the benefits of an agile workplace? Reduced Costs and Better Office Utilization There are two problems that come with having an office; it is expensive to maintain one and it is under-utilized most of the time. Agile workplaces help solve both of these problems. When people work remotely, a business can reduce the amount of real estate it leases which reduces costs. The office can be left for people who rotate in and out of the office. Agile workplaces make use of all the space available to them. By only leasing the amount of space they need, businesses can ensure no space is wasted and even when there is space left over, businesses can still find a use for it easily. Improved Collaboration Collaboration in an agile workplace is now possible due to the technology. When people are working remotely and do not need to come to the office, meetings can be set and attended no matter where they may be in the world. Using a scheduling app such as the one developed by Trinity Integrated Solutions, businesses can schedule meetings and appointments and ensure everyone who is supposed to attend knows they are required to. Instead of emails that can go unread for hours or even days, now employees can receive replies in a few seconds or minutes, thereby helping remove the friction that makes it harder for people to work together, especially if they are in different locations. Additionally, the use of instant messaging apps has made it easier for employees to have conversations when it is most convenient. It Improves Job Satisfaction Giving employees the freedom to not only work on their own schedules but to also work the way they feel best suits them has been shown to increase job satisfaction. The result of this is improved job satisfaction that leads to increased motivation, improved productivity and better outcomes overall. Talent Acquisition There is an increased number of people who prefer to work where they are and on their own schedule. Businesses with agile workplaces do not lock themselves out of acquiring great employees to whom flexibility and an agile arrangement are important. Agile workplaces are becoming the way of the future, with more businesses doing away with the way workplaces used to be set up. Now, employees can enjoy working how they work best. This has benefits for both the business and its employees. These benefits, which include reduced costs, increased productivity and more, are the main reason why more businesses should consider turning their workplaces into agile...

Find yourself working from home and wondering how to do it right?  Here are some authentic DIY work from home tips backed up by some beautiful images from Pinterest and Instagram to support the argument. From – Cozy.happy.home The past few days, this space has been my hangout, my plant jungle, my work space, my lunch spot, my barre studio & ultimately, my inspiration!Which space in your home are you getting the most use out of and what’s that look like for you? Everyone’s home office is different and used differently, but we have one thing in common, we want that home office organized. From- Lady Decluttered From – Theeverygirl Work-from-home lunches can be even better than office lunches because you don’t have to worry about getting them to the office, food getting soggy while sitting around, or getting judged by your coworkers for bringing homemade celery soup like I did. A lunch break should be, in my opinion, something to look forward during the day—a nice little break with a meal you look forward to eating to let you really step away from work. From – Lovelylivingdesignco I adore this space. I like that the desk is near the window, I love the plants and green chair against the white. It looks light, airy and a great place to work.  From – Lifeasmama Printable daily planner to keep you organized. I love all the colors on this planner. There’s lots of room to write things that absolutely must get done, to-do lists, who you need to call, things you need to do in the morning and during the day, how much water you’ve drank and what you’re thankful for.  From – Clean & Scentsible Add some fun to your weekly goal list to keep you in high spirits. From – Bromabakery Let’s face it: working from home can mean days without leaving the house, wearing the same shirt three days in a row, and wearing cotton 95% of the time. Which is great and all, but it’s also great to have a roster of cute-but-casual outfits for the work from home entrepreneur– ones that require minimal effort, but maximize your style. From – Loveshanta  As we are still settling into our new norm and practicing social distancing, some of us have the privilege of working from home. We are still figuring out how to be the most productive and make the best of our days at home. I created and implemented a work-from-home schedule for myself and wanted to share it with you...

To me personality development is “objectifying your existence through constant self analysis, find the strong points that lead to growth and cater to weak points to better oneself.” Go through this personality development checklist to know where you stand. You may be an introvert or extrovert, but that's what defines you. Personality may differ from individual to individual- but that’s the beauty of it. An introvert can be stable and grounded while an extrovert can be insecure and weak. This goes to say that you can’t entitle a person based on their personality type as each individual has few characteristics dominant in them and few characteristics subtle. Udemy Best Sellers The Science of Leadership Leadership: Leading When You Are Not In Charge! The manifestation of characteristics is attributed to the environment in which the individual is exposed to and nurtured in and ofcourse some are inherited. The thing which many are not aware of is that “you can introspect yourself to find what kind of a person you are.” This will help you in the betterment of yourself and see you through both in your personal life and career. Read this wonderful article that lists down the 10 great characteristics of introverts which they may not even be aware of.10 Quality Traits All Introverts Have, Even If They Don’t Know It Personality Types Study finds 4 main personality types — which one are you? Read this article that clearly defines the five personality traits that people fall into and the unique characteristics that define the type. Discover your personality type. Take the Myers-Briggs test. Personality Development is not Leadership Most people relate personality development to leadership. It is not so. Don’t define yourself based on  what others think about you or the feedback you get from them. Self Discovery Self discovery is the most important part in this whole journey. Your flaws may not be flaws after all and your so-called strengths might be weighing you down. There are lot of personality tests available that are introspective in nature and have ratings based on your answers. Personality Tests Personality tests work well as a starting point for self-discovery by providing results you might not have concluded on your own. Here are a few things that will help you to make your day! Use the mornings to focus on yourself and plan activities that will make you productive as well  happy Start your day… wait, wait- no whatsapp, emails or jarring repeat videos pl.  Again,coming back to the point, start your day with simple breathing exercises followed by a ‘five minute meditation’ session. Just concentrate on your breathing pattern and you’ll be amazed to feel the tension melt off from your system making you more buoyant. Go for a good coffee, I have to admit, I like it real strong with half sugar, followed by a nutritious breakfast. Mind you, healthy food is the key for a healthy mind. There, your day has started off well. Follow the 80/20 rule Only 20 percent of what you do everyday produces 80 percent of your results. That’s right, I’m talking about quality time. This is where planning takes a front seat, so as to prioritise the tasks for that day. Eliminate the things that do not matter during the workday – they have a trivial effect on your productivity. Tackle your challenging tasks before lunch You heard it right! The energy you have in the morning time stands unparalleled and you have to channelize this brimming energy to achieve most important tasks for the day. You can go for your payment follow-up, clear pending payments, plan your forecast for the coming week,...

In the past few weeks, the world has experienced dramatic changes in several ways. The job market has especially been walloped, experiencing job cuts work opportunities being hard to come by.  https://gigster.com/thought-leadership/6-signs-that-the-future-of-work-is-here-today/ Gigster, brings together top talent from all over the world to help companies grow! This article reiterates the fact that “Work from home is the new normal.” How to get your Career Back on Track: The COVID-19 pandemic might put your career on halt for some time and affect you in ways you didn’t expect. You’ll find yourself in the valley of hard decisions. During a crisis, the urge to hide is strong, but instead, it should be an opportunity for positive change. In the place of panic and fear, take this time to prepare for a career comeback. Here are some tips you can use to reinvent yourself in the marketplace once the crisis is over.  Prepare Mentally Most organizations are doing the best they can to retain their employees. Unfortunately,  others may have no option but to let them go. If you suffer a job loss during this time, don’t lose your self-confidence.  Just because one opportunity slipped off your hands doesn’t mean you aren’t good enough for another one. Work on your confidence by analyzing your strong career skillsets. Avoid the temptation to sulk or hold a pity party for yourself.   Gauge Your Career Options Picture Credit: Pixabay When there’s a national or global economic turndown, it’s essential to be realistic and well-informed about your career options. Do you expect a transition from your current job to another? If, so, consider the types of transitions possible.  Your options include getting a different career within the same industry. You may also look for a similar job in a different industry or change your job and industry altogether. Here’s a great place to get started and you can find one that’s looking for your specific skills or experience. Here, your decision will significantly be influenced by trending job openings. Even as the economy seems to slow down, some industries seem to do really well. Most of them remain unaffected since demand is inelastic to price and income changes.  Don’t Despise a Returnship A returnship is more like an internship that targets experienced professionals. The most significant difference is that you don’t end up back at the bottom of the ladder. It lasts a few weeks to a few months, and your level of experience determines your remuneration. During the returnship, you’ll be provided with extra training and membership. You’ll be in the best position to reacquaint yourself with a new work culture as you improve dormant skills.  Different companies are launching formal returnship programs, and you may as well take advantage of them. It’ll allow you to see if it’s the right career path you want to make. If it is, you might even end up getting hired.  Think Small Businesses Picture Credits: Pixabay Having your mind on small businesses could be in one of two ways. First, you may have tried to get hired by big companies without much success. Large organizations use resume systems that may filter out your resume.  This is where you change your tactics. Express your interest in small businesses looking to hire new personnel. Most of them are willing to take chances, and once you’re in there, your chances of growth are almost guaranteed. Secondly, you might think of creating your own small business. You might think that you need to have tons of money and hire many people. However, use your strong skills to start a business that brings out the best in you without costing you much.  Finally...

  Finding the right candidate to fill an open job position has always been a challenging task, and the fact that the monetary cost of a bad hire can reach up to 30% of the employer’s first-year earnings only adds to the pressure. During the process, you need to ensure that you attract, hire and retain the right talent, so that your company may reap the benefits of having a skilled, engaged and productive workforce, instead of suffering because of bad hiring choices. Fortunately, with all the advancements it brings, AI has also taken the world of recruitment by storm. Many HR experts now leverage AI-powered tools to help them locate and attract potential candidates, build meaningful relationships with high-profile applicants, and make smarter hire choices. Here are the four most important ways AI can assist in recruiting talent. 1. Attract Great Candidates One of the most significant challenges HR departments face is attracting skilled staff, as 87% of HR experts claim that there is a lack of qualified applicants for the positions they are trying to fill. However, the quality of your job applicants largely depends on the initial candidates you’ve attracted to your job posting. To get more applications that match your job posting, and fewer of those who are over- or under- qualified, your job description needs to represent what you’re looking for in candidates accurately. AI-powered tools, such as Textio, can help you come out with a perfect job description that is tailored to address the needs of your potential job candidates. This AI tool analyzes over 10 million job ads each month. Due to its extensive database, and NLP capabilities, Textio gives you suggestions on how to adjust your job description depending on your industry, and offers you alternatives that better match your target audience. If you sound better to your target candidates, you’ll attract more high-profile candidates from the talent pool. 2. Improve the Quality of Recruitment Even though we hate to admit it, the recruitment process is always biased. A study has found that people with no facial flaws are more likely to get a job. When certain imperfections exist, the attention of the job interviewers will mostly be focused on these facial differences, instead of on what the candidates are saying. AI can make the recruitment process unbiased, as it can help you determine objective criteria, and act on these criteria alone when narrowing down choices and making a selection. Besides, during an interview, AI can spot some other vital characteristics that the human eye can’t easily capture. For example, in an attempt to find perfect matches for their open positions, Unilever uses neuro-science based games, as well as facial expression analysis to assess their candidates’ personalities and honesty. After the interview, the algorithm comes up with a review of each candidate, making it much easier for the HR department to make a final selection. Learn the Art and Science of Resume and CV Writing – Job Search Skills, LinkedIn and Interview Skills all Included! 3. Provide Your Candidates With Better Experience The HR department can now successfully use conversational chatbots to engage with candidates during the recruitment phase, and significantly improve their experience with a potential employer. An AI chatbot can be used to answer candidates’ most common questions, to inform them about the status of their application, and update them on all the recent developments. Many companies don’t follow up with their top candidates after the interview, which severely damages their reputation and their chances of making the best hires. AI chatbots can be there to keep the communication lines with the top candidates open, showing them respect and...