Solutions for 2008, by Ken Mahoney

Solutions for 2008, by Ken Mahoney Judy Martin has been featured in the pages of RBD for her great work with work/life balance.

We go to her blog quite often when we feel that work/life is out of balance.

Here is one of her most recent entries:

A winter freeze has taken residence across parts of the country. The snow is falling, people are staying indoors and a storm is brewing outside (and in the markets) as I write these words. Although the wicked weather is a frightful mix of whipping winds, gray skies and the occasional snowflake, a rather large crowd took to the treadmills, weights, and steam room this afternoon at my local gym; myself included.

This is really the time to turn up the heat and put more effort into removing holiday pounds. And with December's job numbers (fewer jobs were added than analysts forecast) at a low not seen since after Katrina, it's also a time to turn up the heat at work or in your career.

Talk of recession might spark some jitters in job stability moving forward in 2008 due to the housing market mess and other fallout from the subprime crunch. It really depends on the sector in which you work. And while the poor job numbers might be a signal to Federal Reserve Chief Ben Bernanke to lower interest rates, it's not going to put a huge dent in the perception that we might have a rocky road ahead. So, it's not such a bad idea to pump up the volume on your image at work or in business. Here's a few ideas to get you started:

Reassess your WorkLife Profile for 2008: Examine your working conditions. What can you do to change your productivity levels? A change in working hours, more worklife balance or flexibility, or perhaps a de-stressing routine might boost your productivity and status. You can read more about this in my recent post on WorkLife Strategy in 2008.

Identifying your strengths: What are the work tasks that you excel at, come easy to you, or you are most passionate about. It might not be such a stretch to take on a bit more responsibility in that area or a project. This is a good way to stand out, without burning out.

Go beyond your comfort zone: When is the last time you met a new colleague for lunch or had a friendly chat with your manager? This is subtle networking which puts you on the radar screen beyond water cooler conversation. Learn a new skill: In our 24/7 working environment there are always new ways to do business. You might take a training course in a new computer program, enhance your current skills with new certifications, or even learn a new language. Share your accomplishments: There are subtle ways of informing your boss of your accolades. Whether it be an award or landing a new client. What communication works in your workplace atmosphere? It might be a simple e-mail or a quick dropping of the news at a lunch break.

New business: There's no better way to draw attention than to bring in new business. Check out older leads, perhaps there is repeat business with existing clients that can be explored. Examine your strategy and by taking a conscious look at what has worked and hasn't worked in the past.