November 2010
Wellness, Productivity & You!
Getting a Jump on Stress Tips from the Field
College Fast Shift to a More
Scholarships Positive Mood
T
o improve or ele-
S
tart researching early if vate your mood, es-
scholarships will be help-
pecially, if it is not
ing fund your child’s col-
the result of depression illness, try collecting in an easily
lege education. The junior year
accessible location your personal “Top 40” music, comic
of high school isn’t too early. Things might be hectic right
videos, spiritual sayings, and hyperlinks to motivational
now, but don’t put it off. The early bird catches the worm
articles that you have discovered to be effective in inspir-
with many scholarship programs, and applicants who apply
ing you. Be sure to mix in positive-thinking articles that ex-
first often have an edge. Gather sources of funding and ex-
cite you and stimulate “possibility” thinking. When you
amine applications. Discuss who will provide reference let-
find yourself beginning to sink with negativity, head for the
ters. Begin helping your student focus on collecting notes
list. After practice, you will discover that merely thinking
and ideas for the personal essay that may be part of an ap-
about this resource will be enough to bounce you back to a
plication. Will a personal interview be required? Help your
better mood. If you detect that mood problems linger, talk
son or daughter practice “look ’em in the eye” and “firm
to your doctor or EAP.
handshake” skills sure to make the right impression. Get
many more tips at www.collegeview.com.
Insider Secrets on
Is Your Posture Causing Customer
Fatigue at Work? Service
G I
etting sleepy could be a sign f you are a customer service
of fatigue from poor pos- representative working by tele-
ture. To minimize fatigue, phone, you know customers are hyper-
sit up straight while keeping your sensitive to your voice tone and can quickly judge your per-
back touching and supported by sonality. Begin smiling before you pick up the phone. This
the backrest of your chair. insider secret positively influences the customer’s de-
Keep your feet planted on meanor. Why? A smile can be “heard.” Smiling links a posi-
the floor. Avoid crossing your legs or sitting in other leg- tive attitude with its voice impression. This makes you perk
contorted positions. Frequently changing the position of up, and customers sense it. A positive customer experience
your legs or finding yourself in a slump often signals the has benefits for you, like reduced stress and better out-
need for a break. Regularly, head for the fresh air and re- comes. Experiment with this phenomenon and watch it work
turn refreshed and more productive. for you.
Important notice: Information in FrontLine Employee is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to replace the counsel or advice of a qualified health or legal professional.
For further help, questions, or referral to community resources for specific problems or personal concerns, contact an employee assistance or other qualified professional.
November 2010 FrontLine Employee
Being Successful Cyber-Bullying:
as a Trainee “ Internet as Weapon”
M T
aking a good impression he problem of cyber- HA!
and efficiently learning the bullying, along with HA!
You!
skills of a new position is an increasing number
your most important concern as a of suicides associated with
trainee. While you’re learning the it, has society scrambling
ropes, your supervisor is probably keeping an eye on your moti- for ways to curb it. Answers
vation and “readiness to learn.” Keep yourself motivated and probably lie in a range of
your self-confidence up by knowing whether you learn better by responses that include legal, parental, educational,
listening or hands-on effort. Then, whenever possible, opt for the and peer-driven taboos against cyber-bullying, espe-
learning approach that works best for you. As a trainee, remem- cially with teenagers. Like other forms of abuse, help-
ber “Rule #1” is that there are no stupid questions except those ful to intervening with emotional anguish is a high-
that go unasked. Don’t frustrate yourself trying to memorize quality relationship between parent and child. This can
every person and their function when you are introduced to improve the odds that a young person victimized by
them. Instead, keep a small, hand-drawn organizational chart of cyber-bullying will feel comfortable and safe enough
who’s who, and add to it as you go along. You’ll quickly feel con- to come forward and disclose the victimization, so a
fident about your job, and you’ll impress others with your ability parent or guardian can play an intervening role. Edu-
to retain names, position titles, and functions. You’re smart. cate children early about abuse of social media and
That’s why they hired you for the job. You’ve proven yourself for the powerful and harmful role the Internet can play.
now, so don’t seek to impress your boss further by pointing out Help them realize the permanency of online digital
every mistake, systems problem, and resource limitation as you content and the legal, emotional, and social conse-
spot them in the early days of your trainee experience. This is a quences of its abuse. Teach life skills of empathy so
common misstep for many trainees, and can lead to a supervisor children acquire the ability to identify with and under-
thinking that you aren’t seeing the bigger picture. stand another person’s feelings or difficulties enough
to view cyber-bullying as an unthinkable practice.
Presenting in English as a Keep a Journal for
Second Language Personal Change
I
f English is not your first language
A
personal journal or
and you’re new to a position that re-
diary is a time-
quires stand-up presentations, don’t
tested tool for suc-
shy away because of lack of self-
ceeding and marking pro-
confidence about your English. Conquer-
gress in overcoming per-
ing this challenge requires taking oppor-
sonal challenges, improv-
tunities to do it more often. Use this time-
ing health habits, and conquering resistance to
tested strategy that works for any pre-
change. Journals can be used for many reasons, but
senter and virtually guarantees a more-relaxed, in-control, and
their power lies in super-charging your ability to suc-
commanding presentation. Begin rehearsing your presentation
ceed by using visual reinforcement, handwriting, and
in English in front of a mirror at least two days prior to the pres-
repetition. People who journal can also gain clarity by
entation date. Repeat your presentation six times. After a com-
focusing on a key issue and reduce their vulnerability
plete night of sleep, repeat this process again with six complete
to being thwarted from reaching their goal by unpre-
presentations in front of a mirror. The next morning, the day of
dictable events and bumps in the road. If you are curi-
your presentation, practice once more before heading out the
ous about journaling, start by journaling at the same
door. Anticipate a surprising and applause-winning result. If you
time every day for 30 consecutive days. Scheduling
are unsure of how to pronounce any word, you will find a free
can make it more routine and consistent, which is a
online pronunciation dictionary at www.howjsay.com.
key to journaling’s effectiveness.