Alexandra Levits Water Cooler Wisdom Friends Versus Clients Where Do You Draw the Line

Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom Friends Versus Clients Where Do You Draw the Line By 2020, customer experience will overtake price and product as the key brand differentiator, according to a recentCustomers 2020 Report. Increasingly, customers of small businesses may be expecting owners to know their individual needs in detail and go out of their way to personalize offerings and the shopping experience. When this is done properly, repeat businesscan be the result. But what happens when you please the customer so much that your relationship becomes personal? Claudia Mora, owner of The Beauty Vault salon in Fairview, New Jersey; Jeanne Nohalty, founder of design boutique Alley Cat Décor in Oak Park, Illinois; and Jason Sherman, CEO of dating appInstamour in Philadelphia reveal how they manage this situation. Briefly tell us about an experience where a friend became a customer, or a customer became a friend. Claudia Mora: Owning a beauty salon is a tough job. You have to be a best friend, a therapist, a stylist and so much more. You see the same clients at least once a week and they become friends, almost family. You talk to them about life, business and, of course, love. I go out for drinks with customers, and they often text me to make appointments instead of calling the salon. Jeanne Nohalty: We’ve for sure had customers who have turned into friends. It’s wonderful and validates that you are doing your job well. Our key business focus is outstanding customer relations. We treat our customers exactly like friends and therefore see no difference in terms of how we provide service to a friend or a customer who walks in off the street. Jason Sherman: Often, when my friends need help with their businesses, they turn to me. I tend to be careful, as one wrong move could end the business relationship as well as the friendship. In one case, I agreed to help a friend work on a new product website. What were the challenges associated with this situation, and how did you cope with them? Sherman: It was challenging because she wanted a great deal of customization. The situation became very difficult. During this process, we became less friendly and more like business acquaintances. I even tried to reinforce our friendship by building a custom site for her anyway to show her how it would look, but she ended our contract anyway. Mora: When I first opened up shop, I offered all my friends the friends and family discount, and sometimes Id comp their services. One day, one of my best friends, who was a customer, said, I dont need money off. Charge me as a regular client. I should pay the same price I’d pay anywhere else.” That was the last day I offered the “friends and family” discount. For the rest of the interview, head over to the AMEX Open Forum.

Interviewing When You Have a Job - Tips from a Recruiter - Career Sidekick

Interviewing When You Have a Job - Tips from a Recruiter - Career Sidekick Interviewing When You Have a Job Tips from a Recruiter Interview Preparation / https://www.edenscott.com/blog Interviewing when you already have a job is one of the best ways to advance your career.Theres not as much pressure, and companies view it as a good sign that youre currently employed, so theyre more eager to hire you.Going on interviews while employed can still be stressful, though. In this article Im going to share my best tips to help you successfully manage your job interviews and job search while you have a job.Tips for Going on Interviews When You Have a Job:1. Be selectiveJob searching while employed is your chance to upgrade your career and salary in a big way. So be specific in what you want, and stick to it. Dont be afraid to say, no to an interview request.Or one of my favorite strategies you can try: Take as many phone interviews as you can, since its very easy to schedule them on lunch breaks, coffee breaks, etc., and then be very picky about who you go in for a face-to-face interview with.So do tons of phone interviews, but only say, yes to the absolute best companies for an in-person meeting (based on what you learn in those phone interviews).2. Ask questions upfrontA big part of looking for a job when you have a job is protecting your time and managing your time.I mentioned above that you should be selective, and the only way to do that is to know about each opportunity BEFORE agreeing to interview.So ask for a job description before an interview if you dont already have it.Ask great questions in each phone interview so you can make a better decision about whether to go in face-to-face if they invite you. You can get a huge list of great questions to ask here.Then youll be able to accurately decide which roles make sense to pursue and spend time interviewing for, and which dont.As an added bonus, making sure you know about each job before interviewing is going to help you answer a lot of questions like, why do you think youd be a good fit for this job?, why do you want to work here? and more.If you want more quest ions youre likely to hear, and sample answers so you can practice, its all in this article.3. Get creative with schedulingIf a company proposes a time that you cant do, tell them, and ask for what you need. Early in my career I had a company schedule my interviews from 7 AM 8:30 AM, so I could get to work at 9:30 AM.Getting to work slightly late is a lot better than having to take a full day off. When youre interviewing while you have a job, you want to save sick days for when you absolutely need them, so ask for early or late interviews when you can.They wont always say, yes, and thats okay. Have the conversation, and dont be afraid to ask for what you want. Just be reasonable and if they cant do it, work with them to come up with something that will work.4. Be ready to compromiseGetting time off from work to go on interviews isnt easy. But neither is organizing a hiring managers time to interview you (plus anyone else youre going to meet because more and more companies are havin g you meet multiple people before they hire you).So be reasonable, and be willing to compromise. If you make a scheduling request and they simply cannot do it, stay calm and try to understand their needs.If you just think of it as a conversation where both sides are trying their best to make it work, youll be able to find a way to get it done.5. Use your sick time wiselyYou can use one or two sick days in most jobs before your boss starts getting suspicious that youre job searching.So try to save them for when you really need them (a full day interview, etc.)You can also think about whether you can use one or two vacation days as needed.I mentioned earlier that one strategy to save sick days is schedule early-morning or late-afternoon interviews so you dont miss a full day of work. So thats another way to save those full sick days for when you really need them.Coming in one hour late (you can say its for a doctors appointment or anything else), is better than missing a full day.6. D ress up (or dont)Lets say they agree to interview you from 8 AM to 9 AM, so you can still make it into work later that morning.Now, normally youd want to wear a suit for most interviews. But if you wear business casual at your job, walking in with a suit at 10 AM is going to be a dead giveaway that youre interviewing for another position. Not good, right?So you have two options:You could ask them, Im going to work immediately after. Is it alright if I dress in business casual?Most companies will understand and say its okay, and then the person youre meeting with will know why youre dressed-down.Or, you could always just wear a suit and tie (or full womens business attire if youre a woman), and then remove the jacket, necktie (if youre a man), etc., before going to work, so that youre not too over-dressed at your job that day.Its up to you. The point is, dont be afraid to ask for things and have a conversation to make interviewing more comfortable for you.7. Remember your goal and st ay focused on thatLooking for a job and going on interviews while employed is going to be a bit stressful, so be ready for that. On one hand, its less pressure when you have a job, but the scheduling part is more stressful.So remind yourself why youre doing this when you feel stressed, and think about what you stand to gainA higher salaryA job youre more excited aboutA better boss, better coworkers or bothMore exciting projects and workA better career path or brighter future for youAnd remember youre lucky to be interviewing when you have a job. A lot of people and most of the readers of this blog do not have a job when looking for a job. They have no income coming in and its very stressful/difficult mentally.8. Dont cut corners on interview preparation!Chances are youre only going to be able to go on a few face-to-face interviews before your boss figures out youre job searching. So make the most of them.One way is to be selective and say no to interviews that youre not excited ab out. I mentioned that earlier.But the other way is to make sure you walk in ultra-prepared and ready to wow the hiring manager and turn the interview into a job offer!Here are a couple resources I recommend to make sure youre 100% ready:1. How to introduce yourself in an interview and answer, tell me about yourself  Article + video.2. Complete interview preparation checklist9. Make sure to follow up after your interviewsThink about how much time and energy it takes to get interviews from writing your resume,  talking to your network, applying for jobs online, sending endless scheduling emails, and finally taking time off from work to go to the interview.So after the interview, doesnt it make sense to stay organized so that you can follow-up, check for feedback, and thank interviewers for their time to boost your chances of getting get hired?I recommend you track everything in a spreadsheet including:How many interviews youve had with themDate of last interviewNext steps in processWh en they said theyd send feedbackWhether youve followed up already or not, and on what dateThen send  thank you emails a day after the interview, and  follow-up emails after 5-6 days if you heard no response.10. Dont tell coworkersIf you have friends at work, it may be tempting to tell them youre interviewing, but dont do it!Gossip spreads fast in most work environments. They might think theyre just telling another friend harmlessly, but then that friend could tell a third person and before you know it your boss finds out.Then what if you dont end up accepting a new position? It looks horrible.So just play it safe, and tell your friends AFTER you find a new job. Theyll understand if you tell them you were waiting because you wanted to keep it professional and wait until things were final.In fact, as another tip, Id actually recommend handing your 2-week notice or resignation letter to your boss before telling friends too.You do NOT ever want to risk your boss finding out youre resig ning, via gossip, before you formally hand in resignation. So after youve accepted a job offer, resign formally, then tell your coworkers and friends.If you follow these tips youll have a lot less stress interviewing when you have a job, and youll be more successful in those interviews.As a final note, if you do have  interviews coming up and don’t want to leave anything to chance, I’ve created a new guide where you can copy my exact step-by-step method for getting job offers. You can get more details here.

How to Be the Square Peg In Your Interview [Top Jobseeker Tips]

How to Be the Square Peg In Your Interview [Top Jobseeker Tips] Soyouve managed to get a job interview?  Great!  Youre nervous and you cant sleep but you want to impress and get the job. You know yourself better than anyone else and you have decided that this role is a good fit for your skills, experience and personality. Do you want to know a secret? The interview panel those scary senior managers and the dragon from HR are also having sleepless nights. Why? Because they need to find a  square peg for their square hole. They need to quickly and cheaply  sift through a million CVs and cut through the  lies told by interview candidates to find you someone who will do the job really well and will fit in. If they appoint the wrong person, it means several unproductive months followed by a difficult conversation and then another vacant post. Cost and embarrassment! You need to describe the square hole in the interview.  What I mean by that is, you need to tell the panel exactly what they are looking for, so that you can reassure them that you would be a perfect fit. 1) Memorise Fireworks: Your interview preparation top priority is to memorise your own Fireworks opening  statement so that  the recruiting panel remember you as the best candidate.  Imagining what they need, devise a three sentence statement that describes the gap e.g.  From your research you can see that their company urgently needs to rebuild market share. So you say:  I am a seasoned sales professional with a track record of growing market share.  Boom! Make it the first thing you say and the panel will immediately be sitting up and paying attention. You already know that you are right for them so your mission is to demonstrate that by telling them how you will solve their current hot problems. Second sentence addresses their culture. They are a young inexperienced company? You say:  I am CMI qualified with 10 years experience.  Kerpow! They feel safe with you, you will come in and be the safe pair of hands they are all secretly hoping for but cant admit to their equally insecure colleagues.  From your networking you have discovered that the last person in this role retired with a reputation for irritating clients with their less than dynamic style, and woolly sales pitches. So you say:  I combine detail with engaging client interaction.  Whoosh! Look at those sparks! The panel imagine you righting all the wrongs of your predecessor, rebuilding relationships with customers who were unimpressed by the outgoing post holder. 2) Have you ever tried some NLP? NLP Neuro Linguistic Programming matches your language and internal frames  to theirs. You dont have long in an interview but you can learn to quickly assess the main way that each panel member communicates: Visual processors: tend to draw a diagram to remind themselves of your answers and will be more engaged by charts and diagrams in your presentation. They will use language such as, what is your long term vision for, my view of this, help me see this from a different perspective.  To reassure this panel member you need to use vivid descriptive words to let them clearly imagine you succeeding in the role. They will be critically analysing whether you look the part as well, from interview clothes through grooming and even your physical movements. If you sense a visual thinker losing interest during your interview, dont be afraid to offer to draw out what you are explaining on a flip chart. Listeners: tend to narrow their eyes when concentrating on your answer, and use phrases such as what Im hearing is or it sounds likeYou can match your language to their internal frame of reference by using aural communication words  in your examples,  such as,  in my most recent role, by listening to my key customers I came up with an after-care service to make sure they knew their concerns had been heard.  This panel member will be irritated if you make distracting noises, so dont slam the door or jangle keys while speaking, and always follow up with an email thanking them for the interview and reiterating an eloquent verbal summary of why you are the best candidate. Kinaesthetic processors: are the hardest to spot as they have usually learnt to conceal their preferred style of intuiting or feeling their way through decisions. The HR dragon (thats me by the way) will probably have coached this panel member that they are not allowed to use intuition to choose the best candidate but they still will; they cant help it. If one of the panel is using terms like, gut instinct, I feel and of course, my sense is The great news is that this misunderstood creature, the hardest to win over, will fight for you once you have their trust and loyalty. Speak slowly, give them time, mirror back some of this persons words and phrases, and make sure they feel cherished. Once they feel you are on their side, they will be the most forgiving of your mistakes. 3) 6 errors the panel will never forgive you for: By: Shiny Object Make sure you know what the job is  I once interviewed a young graduate who was so keen to tell us what she was like, when it came to the end of the interview her questions for the panel included, what is the job title and what would I be doing? When I gave her a copy of the job description, it was clear that she had never seen it before. No panel would take a punt on you after that. Dont leave any member of the panel out Yes, even if you have a natural rapport  with the others, and yes, even if one seems to dominate within the panel as a group.   That silent, less engaging one  is likely to speak up when they discuss you together after you have gone.   Make sure each of them will vote for you. You cant afford to get a single no. Never fail to be curious, humble, and tirelessly optimistic  The panel will not be able to find out everything you know if you are stubborn or limited in your thinking, arrogant, or cant show cheerful resilience in the face of challenge. Dont ever ever  be late and dont draw out your answers so that your interview runs over  The panel have a series of slots of intense concentration to deal with that day, probably still with the same amount of other work and emails to squeeze in around them, so you will make them murderous with rage if you waste their time. Dont try to be clever one candidate I interviewed for an HR role insisted on turning each of my questions around, so that he could ask me, that is a great question, what do YOU think?  He didnt get the job. Just listen carefully to each question, respond to it in a clear and concise way using examples from previous roles, then stop and smile. You will be remembered as more powerful than if you continue to gabble until one of the panel has to actually interrupt you to get you to stop. Dont say anything negative about any of your previous companies, managers or colleagues  Ever. Not one single bad word about them, even if it is true. Always explain why you are drawn to this company through a series of honest positive things they do well, and refuse to criticise no matter how much the interview panel lull you into a false sense of security it adds no value to your answers and makes them see you as an ungrateful troublemaker. Seriously. So, remember, you are the square peg they are looking for to fill their square hole. If you are prepared, and make the most of the intense social interaction that is a selection interview, you will help the panel out. Their problem is that they have a vacancy, they need to find someone who will do the job really well and fit in. You can relax and make sure you leave the interview having reassured all of them that that perfect square peg, is you. Author: Helen Marsh is the HR manager for searchflow.co.uk.

Recruitment tests dont be scared of them

Recruitment tests â€" don’t be scared of them Recruitment or online tests can strike fear into the most confident. Yet they are still part of some graduate schemes and so are a reality that has to be faced.   Tests come in a number of formats and are referred to as psychometric or aptitude tests. What do psychometric tests consist of?   Numerical reasoning tests :  these assess how well you interpret data, graphs, charts or statistics. Can also be used to test basic arithmetic. Verbal reasoning tests:  these assess how you well you understand written information and evaluate arguments and statements. Diagrammatic reasoning tests:  these assess how well you follow diagrammatic information or spot patterns. They can also be used to check spatial awareness. Logical reasoning tests:  These assess how well you follow through to a conclusion given basic information, or using your current knowledge or experience. Deductive reasoning tests: these are very similar to logical reasoning tests. You are typically given information or rules to apply in order to arrive at an answer. Inductive reasoning tests: these are similar to diagrammatic or abstract reasoning tests, and often involve spotting patterns. Other tests used by recruiters include Situational Judgement Tests â€" these replicate scenarios of a typical working day and look to see how well you know and fit a particular company.     Preparing to take them It is important to prepare yourself. Warwick students have to opportunity to use the range of resources    to prepare.  You may feel that whilst you are motivated it is best to take them as soon as you can. But despite how great you think your skill sets are you will need to practice first. Many people, who are very able and otherwise excellent candidates, are unsuccessful in the tests because they simply are unused to the tests and the speed they are implemented at. It isn’t the difficulty of the questions; it’s the time pressure of answering the maximum number in the short time available. The more you practise, the easier it will become. Some recruiters will incorporate negative marking into their tests, so you’ll need to work quickly but methodically.  You may be rusty on some of the basics. If, for example, you haven’t done any maths since GCSE, you may not be as quick at working out percentages, ratios, etc. as you were then. Bear in mind some tests will allow calculators but others won’t so you’ll need to get up to speed. Don’t be complacent There are some students who think they’ll have no problem with the verbal reasoning tests as ‘they’re about words’; similarly, there are other students who feel confident they’ll sail through any numerical reasoning tests because they’re ‘good at maths’ Anecdotal evidence suggests that the people who perform best on verbal tests are engineers and scientists who are good at spotting the salient points quickly. Numerical tests can be difficult for any students (particularly for those who’ve avoided all things numerical since GCSEs) but they can also present a challenge for others who may be used to working on more advanced and abstract material, not the basic arithmetic â€" or statistical â€" interpretation required in most numerical reasoning tests. Remember that if you progress through to later stages of the application stages you will be required to do another test on the day of your assessment centre. If you require extra time for any reason then recruiters will accommodate your needs so let them know ahead of time. Not all recruiters will use these tests but the larger companies will do. If you struggle with them it is worth you talking the issue over with a Careers Consultant. Good luck!

Business Analyst Resume For Freshers - How to Land That Job

Business Analyst Resume For Freshers - How to Land That JobFinding the best business analyst resume for freshers can take a while to accomplish. There are a lot of things that you can do to help ensure that you have a resume that will get you noticed. This article will go over some of the things that you should be aware of so that you can get a head start on your search for the perfect resume.The first thing that you should be aware of is the fact that you should never try to get your resume written up by a fresher. This is something that you should learn on your own. You should always get your resume written by a professional, but once you have it, you should hand it in to every business school that you apply to. If they see that you have written your own resume and submitted it, you will be surprised at how many applications you get.In order to get noticed, you need to first make sure that you are in the right department. Many people think that all business schools are the same and that there is nothing that differentiates them. That is not the case; however, so make sure that you choose a business school that is comparable to where you plan to apply.The next thing that you need to consider is what kind of person you are. If you are not comfortable working on your own or with a team, then you need to find a business school that has a more 'hands-on' environment. They should have projects that require group work. You want to make sure that they get along well with other students because you are likely to be a team player when you attend school.Another thing that you need to consider is the nature of the business school. If you are going to go to an Ivy League school, chances are that you will be paying a lot of money. You will be expected to get good grades and get into a good college as well. That will mean that you are going to pay attention to the curriculum that they have set forth.Finally, you should take the time to find out how your business school eval uates applicants. A business school needs to be able to evaluate your ability to accomplish the goals that they have for you. Do not just submit a resume that has no thoughts about your capabilities. Instead, you should make sure that you focus on each of the areas that are required for a successful business school career.While you should focus on the right skills for the job that you are applying for, you also need to make sure that you are willing to work hard for the position that you are applying for. When you know that you are going to be working with someone that you want to work with, you will be more motivated to give your best. This is a major factor that can help you land a job in the business field.A business analyst resume for freshers can be challenging to write, but it is possible. After you have completed the requirements to get the right kind of job and have proven yourself worthy of that job, you can relax and enjoy the ride that it can provide. There is no reason t hat you should not do your best at all times.

Land Your Dream Job After Graduation

Land Your Dream Job After Graduation College Grads Don’t Know How to Job Search… Here’s How to Land Your Dream Job After Graduation We often ask advice from “people like us” â€" our peers.?To get a different perspective, I asked Joey?Randazzo, 2016 graduate of University of Puget Sound?and Project Manager for?Paleo Magazine, for his thoughts on landing your dream job. Here is his?advice?as he begins his career journey.? If you want to find your dream job after graduation, you’ll have to job-search differently than the other 2 million grads leaving college this year! Most recent graduates get their jobs by searching through online job boards trying to find jobs they’re qualified for, and they end up working 50-60 hours a week in jobs they hate. So why would you approach job-searching the same way? The strategies below takes you step-by-step to find your dream job after graduation. Find 10 Companies Youd Love to Work For Most college graduates do it backwards. They go to job boards on Monster or LinkedIn and type “Marketing” and “Entry-Level” and hope to find something that they’re “qualified for.” Then they submit their résumé online and hope for the best. They don’t realize that when they do this?a computer will be reading their résumé. A computer â€" not a person! You need to do it the other way around Find 10 companies you’d LOVE to work for (don’t restrict it by location, there are a lot of remote jobs nowadays). Make that list! Research Those Companies and See if They Have Job Openings If they do, great. If some of the companies you’d love to work for aren’t hiring, no worries. According to?NPR?and?LinkedIn, between 70% and 85% of the jobs out there are NOT posted on the Internet… Don’t apply yet though. There are some more tips below, so read those first! When you’ve finished the following steps, apply through their online portal. Be thorough. Have a?polished résumé?when you apply. Find 5 People Within Each of Those Companies or 15 People in the Same Industry Now that you have the companies you’d love to work for, you need to connect with people within those companies. This is where the magic starts to happen. Find 5 people in each of your target companies by researching their websites or LinkedIn. Write down at least 5 names per company (but don’t contact them yet). If you can’t find 5 people per company, find 15 successful people in the industry you want to work in. Contact People Within Each Company Contact the people you listed in your target companies by sending an email or LinkedIn message.? Say something along the lines of… “Hi, my name is [your name]. I’m graduating from [your university] soon and want to create a fulfilling career in the [industry you want to work for]. I see that you’re a successful [their title] in the [industry]. Is it possible to have 5-10 minutes of your time for a quick phone call to see how you became successful? Thank you so much for your time.” They’re going to be flattered and want to help. It’s only 5-10 minutes, right?! Offer to Help Them (for Free) How many people, when applying for a job, offer to do the job for free for a week or two? NONE. You’ll stand out. Do your research on the 10 companies you want to work for and find areas that they could use some help. What are their “pain points?” They might have a horrible mobile website or they struggle getting new customers… Explain how you can help with their pain points. Offer to work for one or two weeks for free, no strings attached. They will see your ambition, your willingness to take risks, and your enthusiasm. They’d be crazy to at least not have a conversation on the phone with you. And if they allow you to do to do free work (and you do a good job) I’d be surprised if they didn’t offer you some type of job. Make your proposal via LinkedIn message or email to your contact list in all 10 companies. I’ve used this tactic multiple times â€" I recently sent a LinkedIn message like this to a company I’d love to work for. I researched everyone who works for them and sent every single person â€" more than 30! â€" a message. A woman responded and said that she loved my enthusiasm and things are moving in the right direction. Give it a shot. Understand that Youre Solving the Hiring Managers Problem Hiring is horrible. I had to be a hiring manager once for my first job. After a week, we had over 900 applications. Every application looked the same. It was brutal! Understand that the hiring manager is hoping that every candidate that applies?will be the right fit. They want someone like you to make it easy for them. Every time you communicate with a hiring manager, whether during an interview or when sending in an application,?focus on solving their problem. Follow Up. Follow Up. And Then Follow Up Again. One of the biggest mistakes that college grads make is that they don’t follow up. My friends will tell me that they had an interview for 2 or 3 jobs. So a couple weeks later I’ll ask, “What’d you hear from those jobs?” and they’ll say, “Oh I didn’t hear back from them yet. They told me they’d reach out to me.” What?! To land your dream job you’re going to have to be relentless (yet respectful). You have to follow up with hand-written thank-you notes sent in the mail, thank-you emails, or even thank-you phone calls. You’ll have to follow up?at least once a week. If you’re nervous about seeming impatient and contacting them too often, then send an email about something else. Maybe they put out a Facebook post about releasing a new product, or they wrote a new article on their site. Structure your email around that; say something like: “Hi _______, I just read that awesome article about __________. I love all of the innovative work you’re doing and I think this new initiative that you’re planning will really impact your followers/clients/customers because of _________. One idea I had to increase engagement with your customers through this new initiative would be to _____________ . I’m still very excited about the potential opportunity to work for ________ . Let me know if you need any other information from me in the meantime. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Here’s an important note it’s not just following up after a job interview. If you grab coffee with an alumni, communicate over email with someone, or connect an individual on LinkedIn, then you should still follow up! This shows a lot about you as a person, and people remember the little things. Don’t Let False Beliefs and Ineffective Job-Searching Tactics Hold You Back Use these tools to take control of your life after you graduate. Don’t just settle for some entry-level position doing something you hate. Join Dana Manciagli’s Job Search Master Class now and get the most comprehensive job search system available!

Choosing your reaction and how to say no to your boss

Choosing your reaction and how to say no to your boss I was having dinner with a bunch of friends and experienced this. Thought Id share the story as well as one of the insights it gave me. â€" Coach Wolfgang A few years ago, I was at an outdoor restaurant having dinner with friends visiting from out of town. The sun was beginning to set but it was a warm, comfortable evening. A waitress approached our table and said, Hello. She introduced another waiter whom she was training. We placed our drink orders and the two went away. A few minutes later the waiter-in-training came out with a tray of ice waters for our table. They were large plastic cups and the tray was full since there was close to 10 of us at the table. As he put the first few waters down, the tray quickly became unbalanced. In a flash, the tray slipped out of his hands and the rest of the waters landed on the right side of one of my friends. He missed his head but probably dumped over 100 oz. of ice water completely down the right side of his body! I immediately stopped talking â€" everyone at the table did! It must have been SO cold and so startling. The waiter quickly handed him some napkins, but there was no use in using these napkins to try to dry his shirt or shorts. At this point, people were looking for his reaction. So how would you have reacted? Called the waiter an idiot? Asked for the manager? Demanded that our meal be comped? Stormed out of the restaurant?! What then? Was this the end of his evening? We had a night out planned with friends. The wet clothes must have been uncomfortable and embarrassing. You are responsible for your reaction Let’s look at an analogous situation: how do you react when you get an unwanted project or assignment “dumped” on you at work by your boss? It is certainly unexpected and unwanted. It often disrupts or even ruins your day! You are certainly justified at being upset. But before you react, take a moment to consider your options. After all, YOU have the choice on how to react. Here are 3 ways of handling this: Whine and drag You are ticked off! You can’t believe you got stuck with this. This really ruined your positive attitude and you spend the next two hours sitting and lamenting this assignment. You realize that there’s no choice here so you abandon your other projects and begin grinding through this task. You take some more time to complain about the project to co-workers and friends. You drag your feet and then have to spend a few hours in the evening finishing this up. You turn in so-so work the next day and your boss asks you for a good number of revisions. The project winds up taking up the bulk of the next day too. Now your boss has a good idea of how fast you turn these types of projects around and what kind of work you do. Clarify and move You tell your boss that you are working on another priority item and the new project will put that one in jeopardy. Since your boss has no alternative person you then ask for a delivery time. She mentions it is due the next morning and you let her know that there are a few hours of work needed on this and probably a round of revisions. Looks like the task is top priority so you clearly define it with your boss and set expectations for your first draft. You arent pleased with the task but realize this comes with the job and its best to minimize this disruption if you cant get rid of it. You put something together quickly before the end of the day. In the morning you make the changes you received overnight and finish up by noon.   Your boss gets what she needs and is aware of the impact on your other high priority item.   She knows that you can plan a task and get it done but she also knows that your time should be spent on important items. Bark and push back Let your boss know that you arent pleased with this request and that you dont feel the task is more important than your current work. Respectfully ask if someone else can help instead.   When your boss says, Im sorry, you are the only one.   So you question the importance of this task and explain how you will have time once you complete your more important task. Your boss then has to decide between the bark back and force you to take on the task or the say pretty please and beg you to do it.   Either one, makes your boss think long and hard about coming to you with important projects.   That might be good in the short-term but probably not in the long-term. Do you think theres a correct response to your boss? Does it seem obvious that clarify and move resulted in the best case scenario for all parties? Now you have had a minute to digest these scenarios, how do you think you would react to the waiter who dumped the waters on you? Heres how my friend reacted: He said nothing to the head waiter or management. He didnt yell or complain, storm out or make any demands. We finished our meals, paid for them and left some of us more wet than others. No one on the staff said anything to him I believe the waiter-in-training was the only staff member who saw the incident. Im POSITIVE that the waiter will not make that mistake again!   My friend said later that any other reaction would not have been helpful or productive.   There was nothing to do but realize mistakes happen and hope that the waiter would keep the next table dry. Only you know what the right reaction is to your boss and her urgent request but those are three ideas for you. They are only 3 of many. Choose the one you want BUT make sure that you realize you can choose! You have the choice on how you react. Dont give up your power to your reactionary and detrimental emotions. Exercise your power over what you can control and dont let the things you cant control expand their influence. Regardless of whether your reaction is justified or not, you can see that whine and bark will actually have a negative impact on your job, maybe even your career. Conversely, the right response can have a positive impact. Its your choice.