Stop Using These 30 Phrases At Work!

I reckon every office or workplace has one of those people that are just full of jargon-ridden management drivel. Does this kind of 'management speak' remind you of someone at your work place: "Before going forward we have to touch base and reach out to our key stakeholders so that we can drill down into the key issues that are not yet on our radar and catch the low-hanging fruits..."

Are you surrounded by people who annoyingly can't get enough of the management gobbledygook and who utter one jargon buzzword after another? Are your meetings buzzing with so much management lingo that you find it hard to get to the real meaning of what is being said? The problem I have with these phrases is that they sound so pretentious and often are counter-productive because they irritate people so much and deflect from the real meaning.

Below are my top 30 most irritating and overused phrases we hear at work. I am sure you have others that you can add to this list. Let's make it the most comprehensive list of unnecessary management drivel ever - Please add your ones using the comment field!

For me, these are my top 30 most irritating jargon phrases used at work:

1. Going forward
2. Drill-down
3. End of play
4. Touch base
5. It's on my radar
6. No brainer
7. Best of breed
8. Low hanging fruit
9. Reach out
10. Dive deeper
11. Think outside the box
12. Positive momentum
13. On my plate
14. At the end of the day
15. Run the numbers
16. Touch points
17. Keep your eye on the ball
18. Back to the drawing board
19. Get the ball rolling
20. Bang for your buck
21. Close the deal
22. When the rubber hits the road
23. Shift paradigm
24. Move the needle
25. Game-changing
26. Move the goal post
27. Value added
28. Win-win
29. Across the piece
30. All hands on deck

What do you think? Do you agree? Are these the most irritating phrases? Please let me know which ones you would add to this list!

Source: Bernard Marr

Want A Promotion? Then Don’t UpSpeak!

Source: Bernard Marr

Up-speaking is increasingly common. However, a recent survey reveals that it can be very bad for your career!

Upspeak, Uptalk or HRT (High Rising Terminal) describes a speech pattern where someone ends his or her sentences with a higher pitch (or upward inflection) similar to the way we would do when we ask a question. The problem with this is that it turns any statement into a pseudo question, which in turn makes a person sound less sure, tentative and weak.

The effect of uptalk is almost as if we are questioning our own statements and therefore subconsciously tells our listeners that we either are not sure of ourselves or what we are saying, we feel inferior to them, or we are somehow seeking their approval.

A recent survey by the Pearson reveals that bosses find uptalk not only annoying, but the majority believe uptalk hinders the prospects of promotion as well as better pay grades in their organization. Here are some revealing stats from the survey (based on the responses of 700 male and female bosses):

• 85% believe uptalk is a clear indicator of a person’s insecurity and emotional weakness
• 70% find uptalk a particularly annoying trait
• 57% confirmed that uptalk has the potential to damage a person’s professional credibility
• 44% stated that they would mark down applicants with uptalk by as much as a third

The numbers speak for themselves: Upspeak has no place at work. If you would like a thriving career, then simply don't do it!

At the same time, uptalk is one annoying habit that is spreading like a virus across the globe. Initially, uptalk seemed the language style of choice among many American teenagers (in that context sometimes referred to as Valley Girl Speak), but the uptalk epidemic is spreading fast. Now, we hear it among men and women of all ages and we find it across the U.S., Canada, Britain, and many other parts of the world. Oh, and Australia and New Zealand, but they are excused because uptalk (or in their case Australian Question Intonation) is simply the way everyone speaks – and because everyone does it, nobody is disadvantaged by doing so.

If you are still unsure what uptalk, upspeak, HRT, AQI - or whatever you want to call it - is, then the videos below should make this clear.

As always, I am interested in your views. Do you also find uptalk really annoying? Do you think it should be avoided at work, especially if someone wants to sound credible and is interested in career progress? Or do you feel we should simply embrace it at work, especially as it is similar to the Aussie accent, which many see as mild-mannered and consensus-seeking? What do you think?

How KPIs Drive Success… As Well As Make You Slim, Fit And Have Shiny Teeth

Source: Bernard Marr 

People often ask me whether KPIs really help us improve. Can metrics make a tangible difference in our businesses or are they simply driving the wrong behaviours? My answer is: It depends on how they are used. If KPIs (or Key Performance Indicators) are simply numeric targets that people are expected to deliver at any cost, then they are toxic poison to any company. However, if they are used and owned by people to monitor and improve what they do, then they are powerful enablers.

Let me paint you three scenarios that I hope will convince you that KPIs are indeed vital enablers of success. The little twist is that I haven’t taken these examples from any of the businesses I work with but from everyday life so we can all easily relate to them. The first is loosing weight, the second is getting fit, and the third is about brushing your teeth. Here we go…

How KPIs can help you lose weight

I know it’s not great to talk about losing weight in early February. Ever since the holiday season finished many will have tried to shift the extra pounds we put on but somehow we don’t manage to do it. I was in exactly that position (and as it is February – I am again), where I wanted to slim down a bit. I was trying to eat well and exercise more but wasn’t losing the weight I was hoping to lose. So when my friends were asking ‘How many calories to you eat a day?’ and ‘How many calories do you burn off?’ I couldn’t really answer that.

So I started to go about this a little more systematically. I set myself a body-mass target that I wanted to achieve within a given time period. This allowed me to figure out how many calories I could eat each day to achieve that. My efforts were aided by some great gadgets to track my progress: My UpBand and my iPhone. Together, they help me monitor how many calories I eat and how many calories I burn off. Suddenly I had a simple and fun way of regularly and effortlessly monitoring the amount of calories I was consuming and burning. Surprise, surprise: I was losing the weight I wanted. This is exactly why weight-loss programs like Weight-Watchers work: they set targets, then help you to measure performance and regularly review progress. So here we have it, KPIs do work when you want to lose weight.

How KPIs can help you get fit

I am sorry to talk about another one of those New Year resolutions in early Feb, but when it comes to getting fit KPIs are great, too. To keep fit I am trying to run regularly and I am keeping track on how many miles I have run, what my average running speed is and how many calories I have burnt (which comes in handy when used together with the loosing weight app).

Anyway, those of you who know me know that I am a gadget man, so no surprise here: I use another iPhone App. This one is called RunKeeper. Each time I run the phone tracks (and maps) where I have been, how many miles I have run, what my average speed was, how many calories I have burnt, etc. What’s more, whenever I switch the app on to go for my next run it asks whether I want to challenge myself (e.g. go a little further or a little quicker). The app even allows me to compete against others and publish my runs (live) on Facebook or Twitter, which would allow my friends to track my progress and even cheer me on (don’t worry for those who follow me on Twitter – I am not going to bore you with my runs). So, in summary, I am running more often and am able to push myself further because I am measuring and tracking my performance. This means, KPIs help us get fit.

How KPIs can make your teeth shinier

My final example is brushing your teeth. We all know that we should brush our teeth twice a day for at least two minutes. A few years ago my dentist introduced a dental scorecard on which he gives everyone a score out of 100 – basically the better you brush and take care of your teeth the better the score. My score wasn’t bad and I was brushing my teeth twice a day but couldn’t really tell you whether it was two minutes or not. My dentist recommended using an electric toothbrush because it cleans better. And as I love gadgets I had to have the one with the little wireless wall display telling me how long I have been brushing for. What is good about that tooth brush is that you get a little smiley face after two minutes and a smiley face with a wink after two and a half minutes or so. Now that I was measuring and timing my brushing performance I had many times when I thought 'okay – brushing finished' – only to check my timer to find out that I have a little longer to go – and generally I keep going to at least the winking smiley face! Since I got that toothbrush by score on my dentist’s scorecard has improved to an almost perfect score. So, KPIs also give you shinier teeth!

I hope that these are useful examples to show that KPIs do work if the are used correctly. There are so many more great examples of where KPIs and metrics make a real difference and I would love to hear form you if you have any stories to share. Of course, there are also many examples that show how the wrong use of KPIs drives dysfunctional behaviours. I’d love to hear your views and comments. Please share your thoughts…

Hair Beauty Secrets from Your Kitchen!

Healthy Hair ! Look in your kitchen for the BEST conditioners to moisturize and revitalize your hair!
Four different masks for each type of hair that you can easily make in minutes using all-natural ingredients you probably have sitting in your refrigerator or cupboard right now!...

DRY hair –Olive Oil and Egg
In need of some major TLC? Combine three tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil with two eggs and apply the mixture to your hair and let the mixture sit for 20 minutes before rinsing in the shower.
The olive oil will help hydrate brittle locks, while the protein in the eggs will promote healthy hair growth.

ALL HAIR TYPES — Avocado and Honey
Mask a ripened avocado and mix in a tablespoon of organic honey and allow it to sit for 20 minutes before rinsing it off in the shower.
Avocados are rich in a variety of vitamins and nutrients, including vitamin E and protein, both of which your hair needs to remain soft and healthy. Meanwhile, honey is a natural antibacterial agent.

OILY hair — Apple Cider Vinegar and Lemon
Combine 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar with the grated peel of an entire lemon and allow it to set for 15 minutes to absorb the excess oil from your scalp, and then rinse in the shower.
Appling cider vinegar will remove build up from styling products and conditioners and strengthen the hair shaft, leaving you with soft, shiny strands. It will also balance hair’s pH level, kill bacteria, and is a cure for dandruff.

DRY, flaky scalp hair — Banana, Honey and Almond
Mash together 1/2  ripe banana and add two tablespoons of honey and a few drops of almond oil and allow it to set with a shower cap on for 20 minutes before rinsing.
Bananas can increase the moisture of your hair, smooth frizz and soothe your itchy scalp.

Note: Choose the one that fits you better and bring your hair back to life!! There is no need to buy the most expensive conditioners on the market to moisturize and revitalize your hair.Go mother nature baby!!!!!

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Source: Natural health US

www.gooddeedsmall.com 

Amazing -5 Best and Simple Tips for Glowing Skin:

Source: Natural Health US

1, Milk cream

Milk cream is helpful to remove darkness of skin. Do massage with milk cream for up to 10 minutes. Then after, rub with lemon and wash that area of the skin with cold water- to get oil free and glowing complexion. Lemon contains ascorbic acid, it naturally bleaches the skin and helps whiten it. As well, applying raw milk with lemon juice aids to tighten the open pores. For dry skin, take lemon juice, mixed with honey, gram flour and milk cream. Apply this daily on your face. For oily skin, use cucumber in place of milk cream and other ingredients remain same.

2, Lemon

Lemon is a superb bleaching agent, and it is very useful in ironing out the blemishes of the face. It can clean the skin, remove dead cells, whiteheads, blackheads, and helps dispose of pimples. Scrub a half of lemon on your face every day for 10 minutes to lighten your skin tone. It will lower your darkness and your color will glow. You can also include a pinch of turmeric in lemon juice as a beauty tip.

3, Lemon and sugar

Mixing lemon juice and a little sugar is one of the most common facial masks. Apply this homemade facial mask 2-3 times a week to get a clean and flawless skin. Massage with this mask on the face and neck and leave for 10 minutes, and then wash with cold water. Doing so will help to remove the darkness. If you want to moisturize the skin, then add some drops of olive oil in the sugar and lemon mix. You can also apply this blend on hands and feet to get rid of sun tan.

4, Buttermilk

Buttermilk contains lactic acid, which is found in various costly beauty products and is one of the good facial peels that doctors prefer for softening, dazzling and exfoliating skin. Due to its extremely acidic and astringent nature, it treats not only age spots, freckles but also tightens skin. Apply buttermilk on the affected areas using a cotton pad for about 15 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water to remove the buttermilk. This home remedy provides outstanding results in getting fair skin at home. Combine 1 spoon of buttermilk with 1 spoon of radish juice to lessen wrinkles, and roughness of skin. Mix 5 TBS buttermilk and 2 TBS tomato juice for treating sunburn. Grind dried orange peel and mix with buttermilk to reduce dark spots on your face.

5, Bread

Take unused bread and soak it into milk overnight. Let it stay in this condition for whole night and on the next morning you would see that the bread becomes very soft. Mash the same and gently scrub it on the black area and remove it. This mask can be applied to keep skin soft and glowing.

Please Share and send in your comments.

www.gooddeedsmall.com 

Alison Sweeney’s tips to leading a more balanced life

By Amy Spencer

• 
  (Brian Bowen Smith/Health magazine)

It's impossible not to like Ali Sweeney. When we meet for breakfast, the actress, 37, is dressed in total jean mode. We're just up the street from the Los Angeles studio where she has been playing Sami Brady on “Days of Our Lives” for 21 years. (Yep, 21.) And that's in addition to hosting “The Biggest Loser.”

But lest you think she's one for staying put and sitting still, Ali—who recently announced she's leaving “Days”—just wrote a novel (her second), Scared Scriptless, out in June. "Like everything else in my life, I had a way to squeeze it in!" she says of writing the book in 30-minute increments. "I'd put on headphones in a crowded room while my kids played." Those kids are Ben, 8, and Megan, 5, with husband Dave Sanov, a highway patrol officer. Seriously, how does she get it all done and still seem this serene? Here are Ali's best-life strategies.

Spring-clean your diet
"No matter how healthy you are, you let things slide. So it's a really good idea to clean your diet and start fresh. For one week, eliminate sugars and sweeteners. It's like anything else—you start to build a tolerance and then you need more to get the same effect. This isn't to say your food should be bland. Buy fruits and vegetables that are in season, and use herbs and spices you really like."

Make fitness your friend
"My top health regret is all the years I spent looking at fitness as the enemy. I thought of it as a punishment. It wasn't until “The Biggest Loser” that I started seeing it as a reward. Find that switch in your own mind. In a busy life, it's a luxury going to the gym. But it's so much cheaper to take care of your body now than to pay the health bills later."

Don't think of fitness as an all-or-nothing proposition

"So you have limited time to exercise. That doesn't mean you have to do nothing. I'm guilty of this, too. But even if it's 10 minutes, while you're watching TV that night, do squats, lunges and push-ups during commercials. In your office, sit on a medicine ball at your computer for an unintentional core workout."

Dream away (then get concrete)
"My dad was an inspiration to me. He's creative but not in the traditional sense—he's in finance. For any idea I've ever had, my dad has always said, 'Let's make a plan.' I think the hardest thing for people who do have a dream is What are the steps that get me there? That's how I was taught. So for me it was like OK, you want to write a novel. What are the steps? To sell it, you're going to need a story. OK, we'll come up with a story. So instead of it being this big, insurmountable vision, you break it down into the little pieces that get you there. It's like the Shel Silverstein poem: She ate a whale, one bite at a time."

Make mealtimes matter
"In our family, we all make dinner together: The kids help me cook or set the table, and Dave is on the grill. And when someone's favorite song comes on, we'll stop and do a 'Dance break!' You either shout it out or someone grabs you and starts dancing, and Dave will have the BBQ tongs in one hand. I have videos of us just rocking out to Michael Jackson in our backyard."

Get your hands good and dirty

"I find if I'm not outside enough, it can add to my stress level. I go on hikes, and I do a lot of my running on trails rather than on streets. My perfect, happy day would be a combination of a couple of hours on set, getting a good workout in and then spending the afternoon in the backyard with my kids and just practicing baseball. I think it's so important to take advantage of nature, to get your hands dirty, to garden, to play at the beach. Be a part of nature. It's not to be treated with kid gloves. We're supposed to have fun in it."

Celebrate every last squat
"If you're waiting to be happy for when you're actually at your goal weight, that's a bummer for you. Enjoy the small milestones along the way: Enjoy the workout that day. Enjoy each healthy dinner. Enjoy the process and you'll achieve your goal sooner and better than you ever thought you would. Don't wait for it and be miserable because it hasn't happened yet. Enjoy getting there as much as the end result."

Try what terrifies you
"When I started to visualize my career early on, I saw myself in a specific way: I'm a very girl-next-door-type character. Then I got cast on “Days of Our Lives” as the villain. My character quickly became, like, persona non grata in Salem. [Laughs] She had this crazy set of scenes that would involve me having to play—I'm afraid to even say the words!—a sex kitten. Then I quickly became a mother on the show. So at 18, I was playing three things I didn't see myself as at all: maternal, a sex kitten and a nasty villain. I had to really learn to set aside any fears or self-consciousness and bully my way through it. Like This is not my strong suit, but I'm going to do this strip tease and give it my best shot! That was a great lesson—learning how to fake it 'til you make it. There is a weird confidence that comes from hitting your most insecure parts and getting through moments like that."

Take the anxiety out of eating

"People always ask me, 'What's your cheat food?' But I don't have one, because I don't live my life depriving myself, so I'm not desperate for my cheat day! I don't judge myself for every single meal or for eating something that's not perfect. When I take the pressure off myself each step of the way, the stakes aren't so high. When you relax a little bit, then you're not constantly craving things."

Remember that success is 99% perspiration
"I learned a great lesson from my mom. When I was a little kid, my mom put me in different classes, from ice-skating to karate. And I remember her always saying to me, 'It's not about whether or not you're really good at it. It's about showing your teacher that you're trying as hard as you can.' It's such a great lesson. So on “The Biggest Loser,” the number one thing that I root for is hard work. I relate to people who really want it. I know that the numbers on the scale sometimes don't reflect the effort. I just love and admire the ones who try."

Source: Health.com 

Cloud Spending to Balloon to $235B by 2017

By Jennifer Booton  Fox

• 

Companies like IBM (IBM) and Microsoft (MSFT) have already spent billions transitioning their services to the cloud, and a new report shows they have no intention of stopping anytime soon.

In fact, enterprise spending on the cloud is expected to triple over the next three years to an estimated $235.1 billion by 2017, according to a new report from IHS (IHS).  This year, spending is forecast to jump 20% over 2013 levels to $174.2 billion.

In an increasingly mobile world, the cloud has become a critical strategy for businesses across all industries, enabling consumers to access vast amounts of data and media such as music from their smartphones and tablets.  

IHS believes the number of global consumer subscriptions to the cloud will jump to 730 million this year from 630 million in 2013.

Jagdish Rebello, IHS principal analyst for the cloud and big data, said it’s a sign of the market’s vigor as large and small businesses move more applications to the cloud and use Big Data to improve products and services for customers.

“With the cloud touching nearly every consumer and enterprise around the globe, spending for cloud-related storage, servers, applications and content will be dedicated toward building a framework that is rapidly scalable, highly dynamic, available on-demand and requiring minimal management,” he said.

Such developments will drive multi-billion-dollar investments in cloud-based architectures, Rebello said. 

Google (GOOG), Apple (AAPL), Amazon.com (AMZN) and Microsoft are now offering premium public cloud storage services, while smaller competitors like Dropbox and Barracuda are offering a fixed amount of free storage to compete with tech giants.

While IHS says a “new cloud paradigm” will dictate new ways to manage and consume data, it warns that key issues still must be addressed, such as security, mobile data usage and privacy.

www.gooddeedsmall.com