Mindfulness Archives - EQuest Asia

Improving Accountability at Work

Improving Accountability at Work To be accountable means an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one’s actions. In an ideal setting, employees are accountable to their colleagues and the organization. But, we live in a world where accountability means differently to each person. How many times have you witnessed the blame game or employees not owning up to their mistakes? Perhaps, quite a few or more if you’ve worked for many years. Often, responsibility is used in place of accountability, but these two are different. The latter refers to what occurs after something has happened. For instance, an employee is responsible for fixing a piece of equipment. After repairs, that same employee is held accountable if the machine’s performance is subpar or fails. Usually, only one person is accountable for what happens after completing a task. This could be any employee, including supervisors, managers and the CEO. If you are a leader, you know you must ensure things get done right. In the end, you’re always answerable for any negative consequence. But accountability has a good side too. Improved performance, better teamwork, increased morale and creativity are benefits when employees become more accountable. So, here’s how you achieve these with the following steps. 1. Communicate effectively If you’ve been reading our blogs, you’ll always find communication is part of the solution. Your colleagues perform well if you communicate your expectations or desired results. Also, don’t forget to express your belief in their abilities. When you do, you empower your colleagues. Remember that people work better when their leaders trust them enough to do the job. 2. Set the example You put a plan into action and along the way, things go wrong. Own up and avoid using external factors as excuses. Likewise, when somebody else is being held accountable for your actions, don’t wait for others to clear things up. Just say you’re responsible. 3. Get feedback Ask for regular updates on the status of ongoing tasks or projects. Sometimes, you might need to catch up on important details or unforeseen developments. This is an opportunity for your colleagues to ask questions or express doubts. They may not be as confident as you are on expected outcomes. Also, they might have concerns with you they’re hesitant to bring up. Lastly, when you’re accountable, you’ll be praised when successful. When this happens, recognize the efforts of those working with you.

The Power of Perception: Why People with High EQ Excel at Reading Nonverbal Communication

Awareness, Emotional Intelligence, Mindfulness / By Mylan Holland / Self-Awareness

Time to read: 1-2 minutes. Keywords: Mindfulness, self-awareness, emotional intelligence, cultural intelligence Summary: Discover how emotional intelligence unlocks the power of perception, enabling people to read and decode nonverbal cues with ease. Author: Mylan Holland In today’s world, communication is more than just words. Nonverbal cues, such as facial expressions, gestures, and eye movements, make up 65% of our communication. Emotional intelligence (EQ) plays a vital role in reading and understanding these cues. Emotionally intelligent people are self-aware and practice empathy, allowing them to quickly perceive nonverbal cues. Paulo Coelho wrote, “The eyes are the mirror of the soul.” The eyes are a powerful indicator of emotions. For instance, genuine smiles cause crow’s feet and result in eye contact. Conversely, shifty eyes may indicate deceit. A blank stare could mean the person doesn’t understand or has lost interest in what you’re saying. Eye-rolling is a reaction to a disagreeable word or action. Glare or pain can cause a squint or narrowing of the eyes. So, don’t immediately assume a person you’re conversing with is expressing anger or contempt. Proximity is another nonverbal cue that emotionally intelligent people pick up on. Personal space varies from person to person, and it’s essential to be sensitive to your audience’s space. According to this article, it’s between 1.5 to 4 feet. It would be wise if you are always sensitive to your audiences’ space. Your message is lost if they’re uncomfortable when you’re too near them. On the other hand, it’s apparent that people are comfortable when they sit or stand close to you. They become more engaged and receptive to your message. Folding arms across the body or turning away can indicate defensiveness, whereas open arms and legs are welcoming. A high EQ is necessary to understand nonverbal cues and the emotions behind them. Its why emotionally intelligent people communicate well and build strong relationships. By practicing mindfulness, self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and cultural intelligence, you can improve your ability to read nonverbal cues and connect with others.

Consider Jobs that Focus on People

Awareness, Happiness at Work, Mindfulness, Wellbeing, Workplace Culture / By My Holland / Jobs that Focus on People

Jobs that Focus on People If you told someone you were the head of culture of your company, you would get a confused look. The same can be said of job titles like Manager of Well-Being (Delta Airlines) and Director of Flexible Work (Microsoft). The modern workplace has evolved into something that would be unrecognizable decades ago. New priorities required dedicated persons to perform specific tasks. This has led to the creation of jobs and titles unheard of before. Companies didn’t create new job titles only because of current needs. Often, these developments resulted from the recognition that well-being, culture, flexible work, happiness and many others have become more significant in organizations. There will be more hiring for positions that focus on the above. Titles will vary, but the functions will be similar. Here are a few that might interest you. Director of Culture This person is in charge of an organization’s culture. Companies created this position to ensure employees are on the same page with a company’s culture. Employees and not just brands should reflect a company’s vision, mission and goals. Often though, the culture and brands are the same. Well-Being Officer There was a time when organizations were only concerned with their employee’s physical health and safety. But, buying health insurance or the occasional “drinks on the house” no longer suffices if a company wants to show it cares for its employees. Now, companies focus on everyone’s overall well-being at the workplace. So, aside from Delta Airlines, Rakuten and Unilever have added well-being officers to their ranks. Chief Happiness Officer It’s not made up or imaginary. A 2015 University of Warwick found that happier employees are 12% more productive. Usually, the HR Manager is responsible for employee happiness. But in the case of Google, the HR Director and CHO are two different persons. Currently, you’ll find CHOs in large companies. For SMEs, a separate position may not be needed, but looking after the overall happiness of employees is still necessary. Flexible Work Manager Hybrid working arrangements are still trending today. The benefits are undeniable, like paying less rent for smaller office spaces. With an increased number of remote employees, there’s a need for a dedicated person in charge of hybrid work. Setting up procedures, providing guidelines and ensuring open lines of communication are some of the flexible work manager’s responsibilities. So, if you’re applying for a job, try incorporating any of the above functions. It will set you apart from other candidates.

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