IT Project Management http://itprojectmanagement1.com Tue, 07 Sep 2010 19:01:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Valuable Resume and Career Tips http://itprojectmanagement1.com/valuable-resume-and-career-tips/ http://itprojectmanagement1.com/valuable-resume-and-career-tips/#comments Tue, 07 Sep 2010 19:00:36 +0000 Project Management Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> The following responses to popular questions are designed to facilitate an effective job search campaign, starting with the resume:


QUESTION: Do I need an objective? I need to do my resume, but I am not sure what kind of job I want. Do I need one? My friend who used to be my supervisor in my old job told me that I do not. Is she right?


ANSWER: There are many opinions on the subject. However, it is better to be safe than sorry. Either use the same resume with different objectives on each to show career focus. Or, indicate that you are seeking a position in a certain area, followed by “titles of interest include project manager, field service technician, and crew supervisor.”


Many job seekers choose to leave off an objective to avoid limiting themselves to one position. By leaving the decision to an employer, your resume might get tossed. Remember, listing your objective is the courteous thing to do. It saves a hiring manager a lot of time by taking the guesswork out of deciding what you want to do.


Mention what you can do for an employer, not what the employer can do for you. Avoid writing: “Seeking a position utilizing my experience, skills and education offering career growth potential.” Instead, write: “Seeking a position in sales or customer service where five years of related experience in pharmaceutical and manufacturing industries will be of value.”


QUESTION: How do I put my resume on the Internet?


ANSWER: Many companies and job banks require that you fill out an on-line form or paste an ASCII version of your resume. Few will accept an email attachment. Copy and paste your resume into the “Paste Here” box on most job search sites or send an attachment if it is an option. In either case, you will need to set up an account providing a user name and password.


QUESTION: How do I create a plain text resume?


ANSWER: Many companies and job banks require a plain text or ASCII resume. This format is void of all formatting. But, there are lots of tricks to jazz it up.


Perform the Save As function to convert your formatted resume to a text file. You will be prompted that your resume will lose all formatting. Choose OK. You will now have a plain text version of your resume. You must rearrange the information if it becomes disorganized.


QUESTION: Should I bring my cover letter to the interview?

ANSWER: Do not bring your cover letter. Its purpose is to introduce you in your absence, communicate your interest in a position or company, highlight your experience, explain your situation, and request an interview.


However, do bring prints of your resume to the interview. Before the interview begins, announce, “Here are prints of my resume. I thought you might want to have them.” That way the manager will have a good print to review, and to pass onto other managers, just in case he or she only has a faxed copy. View our cover letter samples and read our confidence-building article on interviewing.


QUESTION: What should I do after the interview?

ANSWER: Send a thank you letter to each person that interviewed you. This should be done within a day or two. Be sure to mention something discussed about your experience and qualifications in relation to the position. Remember, you will most likely be one of several candidates.


Unless they have made a decision to hire you already, you might not be on their mind. If the company does not contact you in more than a week, send a follow up letter to remind them of your interest in the position. These efforts can be especially effective if the hiring decision has not been made yet. It will set you apart from the other candidates who do not follow up. Before you go on your interview, read our confidence-building article on interviewing.


QUESTION: Do I fold or staple the resume and cover letter?

ANSWER: Do not fold, clip, or staple! Unfolding the resume is clumsy, and the information is not viewed 100 percent at a glance. You want your presentation to be received neatly. Place the letter on top, and insert into a flat 9 by 12 white envelope. In the light, you should see the letter through the back of the envelope. When the reader opens the envelope, they won’t have to flip it over.


Related Blogs

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

]]> http://itprojectmanagement1.com/valuable-resume-and-career-tips/feed/ 0 Stress Relief Management – How To Get Your Life Back http://itprojectmanagement1.com/stress-relief-management-how-to-get-your-life-back/ http://itprojectmanagement1.com/stress-relief-management-how-to-get-your-life-back/#comments Mon, 06 Sep 2010 18:53:38 +0000 Project Management Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Finding stress relief management in your life may be the best thing that you can do to allow yourself to actually heal and to become a person that knows how to enjoy life. Stress management tips are always offered but so many of us just do not do what we need to do. Did you know that when you are under quite a bit of stress it takes you nearly twice as long to complete a project? Now, consider the fact that if you did not put yourself under that amount of stress. Would you be able to do more than you do now? It is a possibility. To find this level, use stress relief management.

What Is It?

Stress relief management is finding ways to add in relief from your stress into your everyday life. In other words, you can do things to help you to manage your stress better. We know that there is little chance that you will actually find relief from stress completely, but managing the stress you have in a better way can help the stress to not be as drastic and life threatening.

Here are some stress management tips that you can incorporate into your life now to provide yourself with a whole new outlook on life tomorrow:

· Find time to relax. While you may be too busy to do this, you must. Your body needs time to stop the worrying, to stop the running around and to find a way to soothe itself. It needs to rest and repair. Try to give yourself about four to six hours per week of just doing nothing.
· Stress relief management also plays into your schedule. Do you give yourself a schedule or do you pack in countless hours of work and get down whatever you can get down with? This is very hard to do and it always will hurt you. Purchase a day planner and use it to manage stress significantly.
· Purchase stress relief products and place them where you need them. For example, a stress relief ball is an ideal tool to have on hand always. It will allow you to work through your stress, making it much less and much more capable of being dealt with. Additionally, stress relief products provide soothing that your body needs to make it through the stressful situations. Take one to work, have one near anything that causes you stress.

These stress relief management solutions can help you to get back on track. Try to find time to do the things that you enjoy doing and focus on finding ways to minimize the stress that you face. Then and only then will you find an overall better life that allows you to accomplish more and feel better about yourself.

You can find stress management tips and stress relief games and more by visiting our mental health website.


Related Blogs

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

]]> http://itprojectmanagement1.com/stress-relief-management-how-to-get-your-life-back/feed/ 0 2 Tips On How To Organize Your Life Properly http://itprojectmanagement1.com/2-tips-on-how-to-organize-your-life-properly/ http://itprojectmanagement1.com/2-tips-on-how-to-organize-your-life-properly/#comments Sun, 05 Sep 2010 18:44:09 +0000 Project Management Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Prioritizing the time of most busy people is an ever increasing concern, therefore a simple and yet effective time management organization system is very critical for these people. It is said to do those things that are most important and delay those less important tasks is always a good idea to practise. Working hard trying to be discipline by organizing your priorities well, then your life will fall in place perfectly as you always wanted.


The deadlines will be easier to meet, and your goals have all been met. Therefore, with proper and effective time management organization, there are ideas that can help you to execute your plan.


Do you really need to be organized?


You will need an online planner, or any planner for that matter. You will utilize this planner to help you establish your time management organization skills. You can plan your day accordingly, right down to every hour of the day. This organization technique is great and with an online organizer you have extra benefits – you can keep focus of your daily timesheet from anywhere you are.


To be certain that you not only get ready a daily organizer but also setup a method of getting “reminders” about your work – that alone will dramatically improve your work effectiveness throughout the day.


How to make life easier


As you keep up with your time management organization routine, tasks become easier. Basing a routine on your management skills will aid you establish goals you didn’t think would fit in the day. This is good news for the person who is running around stress out all the time. This is also good for all those men and women who cannot stand wasting their time – by controlling your time you can effectively use those chunks of extra time to complete short projects.


Another tip to use


It is best to know your limits.


Let us take a closer look at this in more detail.


How to know your limits


To understand what you can or cannot do with your time is a very important thing. If you don’t understand that you can’t change the amount of time in a day, you can drive yourself crazy! Have to make clear to yourself that there are only 24 hours a day. And that’s happen every day of your life. You can’t modify the amount of time in a day, but you certainly can modify the way you live your life.


How you manage your tasks is crucial to your routine. If your organization skills are a problem for you, having some organization to your strategy will help you make it through a rough day. Good results will show once you use an effective good time management organization in your daily routine.

Eddy Kong WW is the owner of the Good Reference To Effective Time Management Tactics. Drop by at How To Use Time Management Organization Skills To Your Advantage for more details.


Related Blogs

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

]]> http://itprojectmanagement1.com/2-tips-on-how-to-organize-your-life-properly/feed/ 0 Managing My Household http://itprojectmanagement1.com/managing-my-household/ http://itprojectmanagement1.com/managing-my-household/#comments Sat, 04 Sep 2010 18:30:56 +0000 Project Management Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> As a work-at-home mom of one very active toddler, I recently acknowledged that my household was quickly spinning out of control. The housework was piling up higher each day and I NEVER felt like I was even catching up, let alone getting ahead. So, it was time for a makeover ? an organizational makeover, that is!

When I was in the workforce, the only way I knew to get things done by their deadlines was to make a list and keep working on that list until I checked everything off. This was my first step in re-organizing my household. I know there are a lot of great scheduling software programs, but I find a paper day planner works the best for me. I write down absolutely EVERYTHING in this planner. I even schedule my shower! Why? I need to see a complete layout of my day and how long each item is going to take. If I?ve got an extra-packed day, I need to schedule that wake-up call a little earlier.

The other benefit of writing everything down is that at the end of the day, I have visible proof of all I?ve accomplished. One of the hardest things for me to deal with on a daily basis is the overwhelming sense that I haven?t accomplished anything. The house most often looks just as messy at 7:00 pm as it did at 7:00 am that same day. So if I can look at that list and see ?laundry?, ?dishes?, ?clean bathroom? and ?run to the bank? all crossed off, I will be rewarded with the reality of all the hard work I did in addition to the other daily essentials of diapers, meal preparations, etc.

Once I established my list, I did my best to prioritize the items on it. There are the obvious things that HAVE to be done. Then there are those ?would really like to get them done but the world won?t come to an end if I don?t? tasks. This gave me a good starting point to work from.

Please learn from my biggest organizational mistake: Have REASONABLE expectations. When the weekend comes and I know I?ve got my husband around for the full 48 hours, my mind runs wild with all the million and one projects we can tackle. Then I?m hit with terrible disappointment on Sunday night when I realize we only finished 1 of those many items. The truth of the matter is I should be happy we got the one project finished ? that?s one more than was completed 2 days before, right?

Another very important piece to this organizational puzzle is the contributing help from other family members. No one person should have to carry the entire weight of maintaining a home and family by him/herself. My husband is great at chipping in whenever he can. When my son is older, I will expect him to contribute as well. For more on this topic, I highly recommend you read ?Family Management tip #1: Getting Your Family to Pitch In? by Saro Saravanan which can be viewed at http://www.youngparentsmagazine.com/articles/Family-Management-Tip-1-Getting-Your-Family-to-Pitch-In.htm.

Most importantly, don?t forget to schedule the fun! I try to take a few hours each week and treat myself to time spent only on me. It usually consists of an hour to myself a few nights a week reading a good book. It gives me a break, but at the same time I don?t feel guilty for neglecting my other household duties.

Jennifer Tarzian is proud to be a stay-at-home mom. For all your parenting resources or to sign up for her weekly newsletter, please go to http://www.youngparentsmagazine.com or visit http://creditcards.youngparentsmagazine.com for helpful guides on credit reports, as well as valuable information on choosing the right credit card.


Related Blogs

    No related posts.

    Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

    ]]>     http://itprojectmanagement1.com/managing-my-household/feed/ 0     Great Tips To Manage Your Most Important Asset – Time http://itprojectmanagement1.com/great-tips-to-manage-your-most-important-asset-time/ http://itprojectmanagement1.com/great-tips-to-manage-your-most-important-asset-time/#comments Fri, 03 Sep 2010 18:21:18 +0000 Project Management Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Some of us pride ourselves on our organizational skills; and that we never waste time and accomplish everything we want to in a day. If you fit this category; congratulations! You are truly in the minority. More common for most people is a level of frustration because we are not able to get everything done in a day that we want to. For those of you who have this problem, here are some great time management tips.

    Time management isn’t a new concept; it’s been around for a long time. But it’s a term that’s really not what it seems, because in reality we cannot manage time we can only manage ourselves. So really time management is self management, so start by identifying your time wasters.

    There are many things that occur during the day that waste our time. The telephone interrupts us, visitors interrupt, stress, fatigue, procrastination, trying to work without all the necessary information, unclear communication, poor planning, unclear objectives, and disorganization all are time wasters. Delegating tasks; dealing with members of the team; and meetings also waste time. The following strategies will help you better use your time.

    1. Learn to prevent the crisis before it happens. That’s called crisis management. If you can put the fire out before it occurs you’ll save valuable time.

    2. Control the telephone. Although there is no question that it’s a great tool, it can also be our worst enemy and biggest time waster if we don’t learn to control it.

    3. You need to learn to set your priorities. Those who know exactly what they want to accomplish in a day do far better at accomplishing long term goals, because to meet long term goals a person has to meet their daily goals – a fact missed by many people.

    4. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. You won’t get it done, and you’ll feel overwhelmed and accomplish even less than you normally would. Know your limits.

    5. Try to limit your drop-in visits. Those peers that just need a minute of your time can rob you of hours in a day. You have to develop the skills to deal effectively with these interruptions.

    6. Keeping your desk neat is the start to achieving more and you’ll be less likely to suffer from desk stress.

    7. Stop procrastinating. The inability to make a decision wastes a great deal of time so start learning to make decisions. Right or wrong, at least you will have made a decision.

    8. Just say no. Don’t let people dump their work; their projects; or their problems on your shoulders. You’ve got to learn to say no and not worry about the feelings of those using you.

    9. It’s a well known fact that meetings are a big time waster so avoid as many meetings as possible. Did you know the average manager spends 20 hours a week in meetings and another 10 hours planning for those meetings?

    10. Analyze your time so you know where you are being the most productive and where you are wasting the most time. That way you’ll be better equipped to make the needed changes.

    11. Make sure you know what your goals are. By defining your goals clearly you are much more likely to achieve them and less likely to drift around aimlessly.

    12. You should always have a plan that is broke down to yearly, monthly, weekly, and daily goals. Of course there should be some room for flexibility, but it will help you stay focused.

    These time management tips should have you managing yourself more effectively, which means you’ll be accomplishing more and feeling far less stressed.

    Gray Rollins is a featured writer for TimesManagements.com. to learn more about time management systems and time management training visit us.


    Related Blogs

    No related posts.

    Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

    ]]>     http://itprojectmanagement1.com/great-tips-to-manage-your-most-important-asset-time/feed/ 0     Tips On Giving your Fixer-upper An Efficient Makeover http://itprojectmanagement1.com/tips-on-giving-your-fixer-upper-an-efficient-makeover/ http://itprojectmanagement1.com/tips-on-giving-your-fixer-upper-an-efficient-makeover/#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:17:16 +0000 Project Management Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> It’s easy to remodel any fixer-upper. If you don’t have good taste on interior design, you can simply hire an expert to take care of renovations for you. What makes it particularly hard is when you have a budget to stick to and an investment that’s on the line.


    Step One: Planning for Changes


    This is the first step in remodeling your fixer-upper. No project would be smooth sailing without proper and organized planning. If there’s no need to hurry, you should take your time studying and analyzing each aspect of the house before doing any physical changes or modifications.


    Consider Weather Conditions


    Is the location an area that’s particularly favored by firestorms, typhoons, hurricanes or floods? If so, you should ensure that your house is weatherproofed against these natural calamities. If not, make a list of the things that should be repaired or changed and estimate the costs for each item on the list. These problems must be fully addressed because of your personal safety as well as that of your family are involved.


    Windows and Doors


    Don’t underestimate the overall effect that small but numerous changes can bring. The simple change in windows and doors can easily enhance the beauty of any home. Get rid of damaged or antique window treatments and make use of new ones. Consider using aluminum blinds because they are durable and come in varying colors. There are also other types of window treatments available to fit your budget so make sure you choose one that fits the overall design of your home. Secondly, consider the present state of the doors. Creaking doors are creepy and not fun so consider replacing old ones with new but stylish substitutes.


    The Small Overlooked Items


    Check if each and every faucet in the house is working. If there’s only one that’s not working, you should try a faucet that matches the others still in use to maintain uniformity. If there are many that aren’t functioning, considering changing everything.


    Test out all the electrical sources in the house. Switch on and off every light and find a replacement for everything that doesn’t work. Check the outlets as well and have broken ones replaced.


    Are any parts of the roof leaking? Subject the ceilings to a thorough appraisal. You can ask an expert to help you out. There is nothing more undesirable than a leaking house. It makes the poorest of impressions a reaction that you should avoid at all costs.


    Step Two: Implementing the Changes


    Set a Deadline and Budget Limits


    The longer it takes for your fixer-upper to be remodeled, the more money you may lose. Use a project management tool to help you achieve your goals on time but without going over your budget.


    DIY, Contractual Work or a Compromise?


    Work immediately on the aspects of the house that can be easily repaired with Do-It-Yourself projects like painting the walls, reorganizing furniture if there are any and other simple repairs. If there is anything that’s beyond your capabilities, hire a contractor right away. Forcing yourself to accomplish things that you aren’t equipped to do may cause the damage to worsen.


    Tips on Hiring a Contractor


    Hiring fees for contractors vary so be sure that you choose one that fits right with your budget. Set up an initial meeting with the contractor and see if there’s a meeting of the minds. Avoid hiring a contractor who believes his opinion always count more than yours. Be sure that your contract includes terms and conditions that address cases of delays on project completion that are through no fault of your own.


    Don’t Let Stress Get to You


    Repairing an fixer-upper can sometimes be extremely stressful. If all you can accomplish for the day is just giving yourself more headaches, call it quits and take a breather. Rest for one full day and you’ll find your energy level back to normal upon returning to work.


    Step Three: Analyzing the Results


    You’ve done everything you can to make the fixer-upper as comfortable and as presentable as it can be. Step back and take a critical look at what you’ve accomplished. If you still have money and time left, consider refurbishing the house as well or spending money on more extensive advertising. If you think you have it made, give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done. Congratulations!

    The above article was written by Sarah Miller on behalf of a buzzing online Home Improvement community where homeowners easily and painlessly find the right contractor for their home improvement projects and in turn, contractors can find the right Home Improvement Leads! Also check out the QuoteCity.com Blog for more related Home Improvement Articles and Ideas.


    Related Blogs

    No related posts.

    Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

    ]]>     http://itprojectmanagement1.com/tips-on-giving-your-fixer-upper-an-efficient-makeover/feed/ 0     Personal Time Management: Learn How to Use Your Time Effectively http://itprojectmanagement1.com/personal-time-management-learn-how-to-use-your-time-effectively/ http://itprojectmanagement1.com/personal-time-management-learn-how-to-use-your-time-effectively/#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:16:29 +0000 Project Management Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> If you live or work in one of the busiest cities in the world like New York City, you will see people who are walking purposefully fast towards their destination.  It seems like time is always of the essence, every minute counts, and everyone is always in a rush.

    When you see a person who is rushing off somewhere, there are two possible scenarios. First, that individual could be rushing off because of being late ? or second, it could be because that person wants to have plenty of time to arrive to that destination.

    If you want to be the type of person who can have that luxury to get to an appointment with plenty of time to spare, rather than always rushing off due to lateness, then you need to learn how to use your time effectively.  This is where personal time management comes in.

    What is Personal Time Management?

    First, here is a quick definition of personal time management. This term refers to the efficient and effective use of your personal time ? to meet your professional and personal goals. 

    Take your typical workday as an example.  On the start of a workweek, do you usually put off creating difficult reports until later in the week, or do you deal with them immediately? When the deadline for a project nears, do you find yourself dealing with more work than you can handle or are you always right on schedule?

    Your answers to these questions would be a reflection of whether you are applying the basic rules of personal time management or not. One of the rules that you need to learn about in personal time management is learning how to prioritize.

    When working on a project, you need to deal with the difficult tasks first ? so that you will have plenty of time later to revise or make any adjustments on it. Knowing which issues to deal with first, and setting your long-term and short-term goals is part of effective personal time management.

    Advantages of Effective Personal Time Management

    With effective time management, these are the benefits that you will get to enjoy:
    ?    You can eliminate unnecessary activities which take up your time through prioritization.
    ?    You will have a regular workload each day, rather than dealing with a multitude of tasks all at one time.
    ?    You can monitor your work?s progress.
    ?    You will have more leisure or personal time.
    ?    You can plan your day, week and month more efficiently.
    Additional Effective Time Management Tips

    Remember that procrastination is the worst enemy of effective time management.  By putting things off, your work will only pile up, giving you a heavier load than usual. 

    If a particular task proves to be more difficult than you think, you may not have enough time to work on it and you will not be able to meet the deadlines set by your superiors, or the deadlines that you have set for yourself.

    The key to ensuring that you are effectively managing your time is to organize things.  Create a to-do list, in order of priority so that you can accomplish one task at a time, rather than dealing with a lot of things at one time and accomplishing nothing.

    All in all, personal time management will allow you to use your time effectively, and easily meet both your short-term and long-term goals.

    For more information, please visit The Ultimate Guide To Personal Development.


    The site is filled with time management techniques, advice on improving productivity, money and wealth advice, and so much more!


    Related Blogs

    No related posts.

    Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

    ]]>     http://itprojectmanagement1.com/personal-time-management-learn-how-to-use-your-time-effectively/feed/ 0     Job Interview Tips – “Tell Me about Yourself” http://itprojectmanagement1.com/job-interview-tips-tell-me-about-yourself/ http://itprojectmanagement1.com/job-interview-tips-tell-me-about-yourself/#comments Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:58:27 +0000 Project Management Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> What is the one question you KNOW you will get asked at the beginning of each and every first interview?

    “So, tell me a little bit about yourself…..”

    My clients continually share with me that although it seems like this should be an easy question to answer, they struggle with exactly what to say!

    The really good news is that I am going to give you a short script to answer this question and you will only have to fill it out once! It will work for multiple interviews. This is a simple way to break down what to say each time you are asked to share a little about yourself.

    You will want to keep your response to something you can say in under a minute. This ensures you don’t lose your listener.

    Your template begins with a statement such as:

    “Well, as you can see from my resume, I have ….”

    What you state from there should first include any relevant academic information, years in the industry or position, and short highlights of the key positions you have held. It may sound something like this:

    “Well, as you can see from my resume, I have 15 years’ experience in the construction industry. After graduating from Purdue University with a bachelor’s degree in construction management, I was hired by Turner Construction to work as a project manager in their hospitality division. That’s where I got my feet wet in project management. I quickly developed a reputation for bringing projects in on time and under budget.

    “Then I was recruited by company X…”

    Continue with this theme through to your current position. Invest the most time talking about your previous positions that are most relevant to the position for which you are interviewing.. In most cases, this will be the position(s) you have held in the last 5 to 7 years.

    Your template ends with the statement:

    “…I am really excited to be here and to learn more about the qualities you are looking for in a top candidate. Would it be okay to talk about that now?”

    Your interviewer(s) will love your positive attitude and you will get to learn more about the position – right from the horse’s mouth, so to speak. Jot down the key points they share with you because these are your talking points for the rest of the interview!

    Don’t forget to practice your template several times out loud until you feel comfortable. This will reinforce your confidence, too.

    By using this simple technique, you will calmly and confidently answer this question – and impress your interviewer in the process.

    Would you like to learn how to quickly and easily get more interviews, shorten your job search and increase your salary? Check out my website: http://www.maryelizabethbradford.com , for free articles, free resources and to sign up for my free audio mini-seminar “5 Simple Steps To Find, Focus On and WIN Your Dream Job – Starting Today!” Internationally Certified Advanced Resume Writer Mary Elizabeth Bradford is “The Career Artisan.”


    Related Blogs

    No related posts.

    Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

    ]]>     http://itprojectmanagement1.com/job-interview-tips-tell-me-about-yourself/feed/ 0     Asking the Right Questions Improves Stress Management http://itprojectmanagement1.com/asking-the-right-questions-improves-stress-management/ http://itprojectmanagement1.com/asking-the-right-questions-improves-stress-management/#comments Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:52:46 +0000 Project Management Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> This article discusses how our inner questioning plays a significant role in stress management. Throughout the day we have an internal conversation which often takes the form of asking questions about the events we experience. It’s these questions that we need to become aware of as they impact directly on the way we perceive a situation.

    When experiencing a stressful event we often start to ask silent questions in our minds, without even being aware of it. For example, when thinking about a stressful situation you may ask yourself:

    Why is life always so difficult?

    What have I done to deserve this?

    What was I thinking?

    Why is this happening to me?

    These types of questions are what I call poor quality questioning because they affirm you as a victim of your circumstances and produce feelings of stress. They also don’t make you feel any better about your situation. They sabotage our stress management capability.

    When you ask yourself the question: Why is life always so difficult? you’re setting yourself up for a pessimistic outlook by reaffirming that life is difficult and that you are powerless against its hardships. Is life really difficult all the time or would it be more accurate to say that sometimes we face challenges that need to be overcome and they are part of the journey of our lives?

    A valuable stress management technique is to be constantly aware of the questions you are asking yourself because poor quality questions often create feelings of stress and prevent you from being optimistic by focusing your thoughts on all the negative aspects of your situation. These thoughts often snowball and, before you know it, you become stressed and anxious. By checking your inner questioning and ensuring that you’re asking good quality questions your feelings of stress will be kept at bay and your stress management improves.

    So how do you turn poor quality questions into constructive ones? The first step is to become aware of your poor quality questions and to make a conscious effort to be mindful of your inner chatter. Observe self-talk closely and keep continual watch over it.

    The next step in this stress management tool is to become aware of the harmful nature of poor quality questions and the stress it can create. When you are mindful of the questions you are asking yourself, you’ll be able to identify if they are of poor quality and how to replace these with constructive questions.

    Here are a few questions to consider:

    What can I learn from this experience?

    How can I use this situation to learn more about myself?

    Where is the opportunity in this problem?

    How can I ensure that I don’t repeat the situation?

    How can I use this experience to learn patience and tolerance?

    How could I have prevented this problem?

    What can I do differently next time?

    By consciously asking yourself questions like these you reframe a potentially stressful situation into one that can be a valuable experience for you and begin to take more control of your stress management ability.

    Putting it into practise

    To apply this in practise start by becoming aware of your inner questioning throughout the day. Focus your awareness on what questions you’re asking yourself silently in your mind; it’s this inner chatter that you need to become more familiar with. Once you are aware of your inner questioning it will be easier to recognise poor quality questions when they arise.

    Let’s use a practical stress management example to see how we can change poor quality questioning in a stressful situation.

    You’ve been asked to report on an important project that you’ve been responsible for in a weekly work meeting. Unfortunately, things have not gone according to plan and you need to tell everyone why the project is no longer on track.

    Response 1: Poor quality questioning (usual default thinking)

    While you’re waiting to deliver your report your mind starts to stream poor quality questions. You start asking yourself: What are they going to think of me? What if they take me off this project? How will I ever get that bonus I want?

    You start feeling stressed and anxious.

    Response 2: Using constructive questioning (a great stress management tip)

    While you’re waiting your mind starts asking quality questions. You ask yourself: How can I use this situation to my advantage? What lessons have I learned from this experience? What if I focus on showing them my problem solving abilities and the benefits that this challenging situation has brought about?

    You start to see a solution to your stressful situation and begin to relax.

    Asking constructive questions helps your stress management in challenging circumstances and maintains a positive state of mind.

    Get to know the content of your inner chatter and be mindful of any negative questioning that may sabotage your feelings of optimism and stress management capability.

    If you find that your questioning is creating a pessimistic view of a situation, change your focus by asking yourself positive questions. You’ll become open to a way of thinking that supports you in life’s challenges.

    InnerCents specialised in stress management, leadership training and executive coaching.


    Related Blogs

    No related posts.

    Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

    ]]>     http://itprojectmanagement1.com/asking-the-right-questions-improves-stress-management/feed/ 0     Some Time Management Solution Tips For You http://itprojectmanagement1.com/some-time-management-solution-tips-for-you/ http://itprojectmanagement1.com/some-time-management-solution-tips-for-you/#comments Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:54:18 +0000 Project Management Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> A time management solution can be interpreted as either a personal solution or business related issue. Which do you fall under? It’s become such a popular part of the human landscape in recent years simply because of changing lifestyles and improving business best management practices.

    Time Management Planner

    Personal time management solutions come in various forms. The trusty old diary has been used by just about every one and while it has it’s flaws, it has been a good ally in managing time effectively. In today’s world, the use of electronic devices has become more commonplace and a planner can now come in the form of a small hand held computer able to alert you to various tasks at set times.

    For those who prefer more conventional methods, a planner can come in the shape of a wall chart with your projected daily or weekly tasks laid out in plain view. While physically setting how you want to break up your time during any given day is important, accomplishing those tasks still requires discipline. One way to tackle this is by rewarding yourself at the completion of each task. The reward can be whatever you choose it to be but you need to make sure the reward is in proportion to the level of your completed project.

    Time And Attendance

    Time and attendance methods are being employed effectively in today’s business world. Employers are able to monitor employer performance by implementing systems either technically or manually. Whether it’s simply a matter of keeping track of employee attendance or making the employee accountable for his or her time.

    Calculating valuable data on employees is achieved through automated processes such as computer software. Employers can see at a glance the contribution being made and by assessing this data at regular intervals, are usually in a position to reward on basis of performance. Many businesses can craft reward programs based on the data gathered through time management software thus giving attractive incentives which can only lead to increased productivity.

    Can this have some negative effects? Sure, but generally negativity will come from non team players who may have been able to “sneak under the radar” in the past but are now more accountable for their work time. The term team player has become not only a popular expression in team sporting circles but also in business. Employers are realising that without a co-operative time management effort from staff, engendearing a good team spirit can often be futile.

    Some Personal Tips

    Follow these sound time management tips:

    1. Choose you three major goals for the next 12 months and then set short term deadlines for them.
    2. Allow a certain amount of time during the day to work on your goals.
    3. Record your efforts each day and review them weekly.
    4. By doing this, you’ll be able to determine how effective your time has been, whether you are devoting enough time to your goals or whether you are being distracted by irrelevant tasks.

    Dean Caporella is a professional broadcaster. Dean reviews a variety of time management solutions plus related time management news and tips at:http://www.timemanagementsite.com


    Related Blogs

    No related posts.

    Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

    ]]>     http://itprojectmanagement1.com/some-time-management-solution-tips-for-you/feed/ 0