The difference between a contrarian and an independent thinker

The difference between a contrarian and an independent thinkerThe difference between a contrarian and an independent thinkerWhats the difference between being a contrarian and an independent thinker?People often celebrate contrarian thinkers. After all, theyre the ones who swam against the current, resisted the pressure of the group, and were revered as visionaries because of it.But its important to consider, anyone who aims to consistently be a contrarian thinker is going to be wrong most of the time.Even Jeff Bezos says, You have to remember that contrarians are usually wrong.Theres often a good reason the vast majority of people take one side when it comes to solving a problem or making a decision. It isnt necessary, or even very helpful, to always take the opposing view.And yet, if you think the same way as everyone else, its very difficult to outperform them.So rather than always being swayed by the consensus view - or consistently being a contrarian- you should strive to be an independent thinker. Although they sometimes look the same, an independent thinker isnt a contrarian thinker. Independent minds dont take an opposing stance out of habit or a desire to be different.They simply look at different perspectives, and sometimes find a unique angle. Thats thinking for themselves. Something very different.Heres what that looks likeThe difference between contrarian and independent thinking is perspectiveSomeone who thinks independently may come off as a contrarian when you first meet them. And a contrarian thinker may initially seem to be quite independent. But if you work with one or the other for long enough, the differences begin to emerge.Thats because theres bedrngnis necessarily any value in being a purely contrarian thinker. People tend to choose this style of thinking in order to be different. They want to stand out, not to figure things out. And that can be a problem when they bring that attitude into a workplace or a productive environment. While it might be fun or interesting to take the opposite point of view all the time, doing so may not actually bring any unique conclusions to the table.Its better to develop an independent thought processIf you think independently, then yes, on occasion youre going to look as though youre opposing for the sake of opposing. But thats only because youve come to a different conclusion based on a unique perspective. Its very likely youll often conclude the consensus view is correct.Independent thinking isnt about taking the opposite stance or going with the crowd. Instead, its about looking at a problem in a fundamentally different way and drawing your own conclusion- whether its the same as everyone elses or completely different is irrelevant.You can develop independent thinking skillsThere is reputational risk in independent thinking. When you first look at the successes of some independent thinkers, it may seem great to stand out. Theyre lauded as trailblazers and geniuses.But making the decision to take an opposing stance can be dangerous to your social standing within a group. Consciously or unconsciously, people will often make judgments about you based on how you interact with a group.In Daniel Coyles book The Culture Code, he devotes part of the introduction to a story about making houses with strands of spaghetti. Interestingly, when children are pitted against adults, the children almost always win. According to Coyle, its not because theyre smarter, or have more aptitude for building the structure. Instead, the adults spend an inordinate amount of time trying to figure out their roles and navigate their social identities.Do I look good here? Should I be in a more managerial role? Am I clashing with Sarah?The kids dont bother with any of that. They jump right in and start building because they find it easy to ignore social pressures. The children always beat the adults in this spaghetti contest.When forming your own views, you have to get over the fear of ho w other people will think about you. That doesnt mean not caring what others think. It just means not being afraid to be seen in a negative light if youre convinced the consensus view is wrong.Becoming aware of the influences around you is a key part of being an independent thinkerYour goal should be to develop a partial attachment to the situation around you. Some part of you should always be watching, noticing, thinking. This is a part of you thats not completely living in the situation. Rather, youre absorbing it and separating yourself from whats happening- to the degree that is possible.Use that detachment to identify how youre being influenced. Are you really reacting to the facts, or are you letting the emotions of the group affect your decision?A good way to objectively grade your decision-making process is by starting a decision journal. Every time you make a decision, write down what you decided and why. Three months later, open the journal to that page and revisit what yo u wrote. Not only will you see whether you were right or wrong, but youll also get to see whether you made a sound decision based on facts, or if you just got lucky. This is usually an eye-opener and a great starting point to understand your own thinking.Independent thinking is about more than just taking the opposing view. Its about constantly evaluating the situation and your decision-making process to get the best results possible. Its a difficult skill to cultivate, but the rewards of doing so can be tremendous for forming unique ideas and your own point of view.This article was originally published on Quora.com.

Green-Collar Jobs Glossary and Guide

Green-Collar Jobs Glossary and GuideGreen-Collar Jobs Glossary and GuideIts easy enough to say you want to work for an environmentally sensitive company or take advantage of the growing green economy, but both are hard to find, even advocates admit.Whats a green-collar job?The easiest definition is any job focused on sustainability limiting a companys consumption of natural resources and production of pollutants. Green goals include limits on carbon emissions, use of energy and material resources as well as more recycling, said Jennifer M. Cleary, a researcher at the The John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University.Not all jobs are green, even at the greenest of companies. An accountant is still an accountant, even in a company that recycles hybrid mini-cars and hemp using solar power, biodiesel and rainwater. By contrast, a procurement manager at a paper plant may find her job is almost entirely focused on green skills.Its likely we will all have green job s in the future, said G. Dodd Galbreath, executive director at the Institute for Sustainable Practice and assistant professor at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn. Rather than requiring a new breed of green jobs, its likely the new green economy will simply require all of us to employ some green skills.What is clear is that being green, or managing a business process so that it is environmentally sustainable, will become a key part of many managers jobs and a requirement of most business processes, Gallbreath said.This role will include managers in dienstgrad of manufacturing, distribution, sourcing, design, research, facilities or materials management, and nearly every other part of a business that supports either workers internally or produces products or services externally, Galbreath said.Whats a green skill?One that helps you eliminate waste and streamline a business process to minimize its environmental impact, Cleary said. An example of an overt green skill is the financ ing and exchange of carbon credits on either an open or closed market. ( Carbon credits, each of which is equal to a ton of carbon emitted into the environment, are the unit of trade for governmental systems that cap the amount of greenhouse gases that can be emitted by a nations industries. They create emissions-trading markets in which businesses buy or sell the right to emit those gases.)More-subtle green skills would include knowledge about the lifecycle of products and the material used to produce them knowledge about the source and type of power used in manufacturing, transport and powering of a business and an understanding of the environmental impact of choosing air freight versus truck or ship.Where is green most important?If you work in energy, you have to walk the green walk. Much of the $60 billion earmarked for clean energy in the Obama administrations stimulus plan is intended to make the United States more energy efficient and independent. Heavy manufacturing and tran sportation are almost as high on the list. People in other industries at least have to talk a good game or get left behind. But if you want a job in energy and dont already know the pros and cons of renewable and fossil energy sources, the next few months may be long and cold, no matter what the outside temperature.Where do you go to get the skills?Arizona State University is probably the best-known business program with a focus on sustainability, but there are dozens of others, Galbreath said. The year-old program at Lipscomb is among those offering a degree based on green-skills education.Most business schools have some level of sustainability training, as do executive-training companies, Galbreath said, but theyre not yet worth the time and money for job seekers. There arent enough green-centric jobs to justify the expense and there arent enough standard practices to make a more generic education useful.Green training doesnt work without integration with traditional industries an d skill sets, Cleary wrote in a recent presentation to educators.Most of the real knowledge comes from putting green principles into practice in a particular industry. Galbreath recommends anyone interested in gaining green skills should pursue a green job or industry and learn on the job, putting the cost of education on your employer.

Improving Your Performance as a Manager

Improving Your wertmiger zuwachs as a ManagerImproving Your Performance as a ManagerIt is rare that any manager or executive has no complaints about his teams performance. More often than bedrngnis, however, the more appropriate one to blame is the person staring back at the manager in the mirror. Implementing the following 12 ideas can make a big difference in the improvement of team morale and performance. Incorporate them in your work life and watch yourself and your team grow into the effective and high-functioning team youre meant to be. 12 Ideas to Improve Your Performance as a Manager To improve your teams results, you have to change yourself and take a few risks by performing differently than you have in the past. Try to implement as many of the following ideas as you can, and reap the rewards for yourself and your subordinates. 1. Create more opportunities for one-on-one discussions.It is easy to let the daily firefights keep you from spending quality time with your team members. Fight hard to free some space in your crowded calendar just to talk. Your team members will appreciate the effort and the face-time. 2. Stop micromanaging.The micro-managing boss is no ones favorite. Good people do their best work when youre not staring over their shoulder. Give them space and let them show you what they can do. 3. Change your approach to trust.Instead of requiring everyone to earn your trust, try giving it first. Your team members will appreciate not having to move mountains to gain a grudging amount of trust from you. Your team will respond to this approach by not only trusting you faster but by working hard to exceed your expectations. 4. Avoid becoming the wrinkly-shirted bridge lizard.This colorful and less-than-desirable bridge lizard is that manager who remains firmly planted in his chair watching store employees from the observation deck and peppering them with regular, and often unfounded criticism. No one likes or respects this character. Push aw ay from your desk and insert yourself in the work of your geschftlicher umgang and learn firsthand about your team and their challenges. 5. Quit trying to be the smartest person in every conversation.When looking at your job description, no requirements stipulate that you must be the smartest person in the room at all times. Remember, it is your job to hire and develop people who are smarter than you. 6. Increase the flow of information to your team.Everyone on your team wants to know how the firm is doing and whether the sales team landed that big contract. Set up regular update sessions where you brief your team on the firms results. Make certain they have an opportunity to ask questions. A great technique is to invite a different executive to every meeting to handle the bigger, strategic questions. The executives appreciate the time with your team and your team members get to know the executives while learning about the firms performance. A true win-win. 7. Learn and live the 31 ratio.Deliver 3-times as much positive feedback as constructive (the negative kind). Just remember that the positive feedback must be well-earned and behavioral in nature. 8. Quit stalling on the difficult conversations.Good people want input on how to improve. No one wins when you avoid tackling the constructive feedback discussions. 9. Read more.If you are not reading and learning, you are moving backward at the speed-of-change. From industry journals to the latest business periodicals and bestsellers, there is no excuse for not keeping current with your reading. And of course, do not limit yourself to industry or business fare. Any topic or genre that exposes you to ideas, approaches, and histories serves the purpose. Share your findings and insights with your team members. Kudos if you or your team members identify ideas you can incorporate to improve performance. 10. Help your team read more.Set up and fund a reading discussion group. Get the team started with the initial few t itles and then let them make future choices. Make certain to schedule time to meet and discuss the books. One human resources manager hosted a well-attended monthly reading club discussion session over lunch with pizza or subs on him. A senior software engineer substituted one weekly status meeting per month with a discussion session. Find an approach that fits your culture and schedule. 11. Schedule downtime for your team.You might have found that you unconsciously zustrom your team like you are in a state of perpetual hurry-up. Create opportunities for some brain-stimulating downtime. Take your team on a field trip a few times per year. Kudos if you can use the field trip for some creative brainstorming in the workplace. You can regularly schedule outings with your team members at businesses (in unrelated industries) known for remarkable customer service. Then come back to the office with ideas to strengthen the teams performance. 12. Renew your vow to live by the Coachs Credo.Whe n things go wrong, its the coachs fault. When things go right, its because of the team. The Bottom Line Managers have a tough job, and theyre on the hook for driving great results and promoting continuous improvement. There is no doubt getting things done through others is hard, often frustrating work. However, all of the work you do to promote a healthy work environment that is free of fear and unnecessary stress will pay huge dividends on your mission to strengthen results.

Administrative Resume Mistakes to Avoid

Administrative Resume Mistakes to AvoidAdministrative Resume Mistakes to AvoidAs the saying goes, You never get a second chance to make a first impression. When youre job hunting, its your administrative resume that provides that first impression. You cant afford to fall victim to avoidable resume mistakes.You never know how much competition youll face for a job opening, and just one error on your administrative resume can be a deal breaker.Here are eight common resume mistakes that can prompt hiring managers to hit the delete key - and that can keep you from landing administrative jobs1. Failing to proofreadEvery company out there hiring for administrative jobs is looking for administrative professionals who are detail oriented. You cant really claim that you are if your resume has typos, grammatical errors, misused words or other mistakes. Knowing how to spell matters. Look up words youre not sure about, and also use a spelling checker. Even if you review your administrative resum e multiple times, have friends and family take a look for any resume mistakes, too.2. Sending everyone the same administrative resumeAn employer asking for strong Excel skills is going to be looking at your resume differently than an employer who is wanting to hire someone with the ability to support executives who travel frequently. Youll want to highlight aspects of your hintergrund that suit each job opening, and that means customizing every administrative resume you send out.Ready to start your search for administrative jobs? OfficeTeam can help connect you with top employers in your area - and get you to work faster.GET HELP FINDING WORK3. Sharing a boring list of job dutiesGood resumes are interesting and leave hiring managers eager to talk to you. Make sure youre shining the best possible light on what you did in previous jobs. For example, when your resume states that you updated 32 presentations last year for a team of six deadline-driven marketing professionals, its far m ore impressive than if it states that you updated presentations as needed.Also note any accomplishments, such as winning an internal award or saving the company money.You must do more than avoid resume mistakes to land administrative jobs. Check out the slide share below for Key Traits of Successful Administrative Professionals.4. Being vague about your past administrative jobsProvide sufficient detail so hiring managers arent wondering what exactly you did in your last job. What does it mean when you say you supported the accounting team? Managers wont put in the effort to figure it out.5. Using funky formattingWhen it comes to formatting your administrative resume, less is more. Keep it simple and avoid creative flourishes, like fun fonts. Keep the attention on the content of your resume.6. Providing irrelevant informationYour administrative resume should focus on skills and experience tied to the job opening. Theres no need to mention that youre an avid skier or like crossword pu zzles, and definitely avoid citing political or religious activity. Its ok to note that you have experience volunteering as long as it adds to your professional value.7. Going overboard with industry jargonYou cant assume your administrative resume will end up in the hands of a fellow admin. A department leader or HR professional may take the first look, so avoid using acronyms or terminology they may not understand. There are words to use in a resume - and some to avoid.8. And the worst of resume mistakes lyingThis should go without saying, but its important to mention because some people do try to stretch the truth. Good resumes are accurate ones. Changing the dates of employment to cover up a gap in your work history or saying youre an expert with PowerPoint when youve only used it twice can have serious consequences.

The Dos and Donts of C V and Resume

The Dos and Donts of C V and Resume Job applications, on paper or on the internet, is made up of two distinct documents. You may also have to include specific info. You must take care when youre submitting such info and make sure the info is going to be secured and protected in every fashion. Youre accountable for providing current and accurate info. Another opinion vitae be beneficial in assisting you to craft a well-polished CV. By way of example, even in North America, there are particular circumstances where a CV is necessary. Regardless of whether you take advantage of a CV or resume, you must thoroughly edit your document. CV is a lengthy application document and could be even 5 pages long. CVs must be frequently updated, because its more of a continuing account of activities about the academe. Below are some differences between the CV and a Resume which may be used as a guideline when youre expected to prepare either one of them. In Europe most recruiters would rather have a short CV that isnt difficult to scan and suited for the work font. Each folder consists of 18 design options of Under Construction page, that youll definitely like. Just be certain to match the formatting (font and basic style) to the remainder of your resume so it resembles a cohesive document. The template appears great and itll interest fans of minimalist style. Consider if a summary statement would be proper for you or just nix it altogether to conserve space and concentrate on making the remainder of your resume stellar. In different parts of the Earth, the expression CV keeps its American meaning. For the remainder of the planet, the expression CV is the only one used. In Europe the term CV has become the most common, but the true format changes based on the work type youre applying for. The Rise of C V and Resume American employers are normally partial towards the resume, whereas elsewhere on earth, CVs are deemed favorable. Resumes are usually categor ized by the style in which the info is presented. CVs are also necessary for common job application also in lots of nations, mainly needed to join the area of medicines. They are often tailored to change the emphasis of the information according to the particular position for which the job seeker is applying. Positions will stay open until filled. Resumes are used by employers looking for certain qualifications and techniques. They are usually used to apply for almost any job not in academics. Resumes are somewhat more common and its important that you know how to compose an effective resume if youre in the job application procedure. What You Need to Do About C V and Resume Beginning in the Next Seven Minutes Possessing a strong resume will enable you find quite a few great jobs. Whether youre applying for work, a grant, or using your resume to construct your own client base, a skilled and well-organized resume is encouraged. Proper proofreading is accomplished by somebody else. Meaning, job seekers who look good stand far better odds of getting work, no matter their abilities. Several employers and many job seekers arent able to discern between the 3 due to deficiency of awareness. Transportation jobs involve a lot of responsibility and your resume will want to reflect you can deal with that. Many work in the public service or academia will take a comprehensive CV to be submitted as a member of a work application. The Appeal of C V and Resume Make certain you follow all the overall convention and rule utilized for writing the CV. To compose a very first class resume you want to make it predominantly results oriented and concentrate on your achievements and contributions during your career. In a CV, for instance, if youre asking for work in education, you may want to set your teaching experience on top of your CV. For each resume you send out, you are going to want to highlight only the accomplishments and techniques which are most relevant t o the job at hand (even if this indicates that you dont incorporate all your experience).

Are Video Interviews Replacing The Traditional Interview

Are Video Interviews Replacing The Traditional InterviewThe replacement question. One Im often asked as the CEO of a company that offers video interviewing solutions. Are you looking to replace the traditional, in-person interview with video interviews? The short answer is no. The main purpose of video interviews is to bridge the gap between an anfangsbuchstabe paper resume to the in-person interview. Thus, this new wave of interviewing should be landseen as an enhancement to the screening process rather than a replacement to the traditional interview.The Distance GapThere are multiple ways video interviews bridge the gap between an initial paper resume and the in-person interview. For one, video interviews enable a company to screen candidates anywhere in the world without the need for travel. Does that mean companies wont continue to fly people in town for an in-person interview? No, but it does mean that companies will be able to make smarter decisions on who they fly in. Not to m ention the benefits for the candidates abroad who may not be able to make it in town such as students studyingoverseas.The Insight GapHow do you evaluate candidates and decide who to advance further along in the hiring process? If you havent explored online interviewing, then Im assuming youre still conducting those time-consuming phone screens- a topic I discussed earlier in the week in an article on why you should be conducting video interviews. While I did say that video interviews arent meant to replace the in-person interview, one-way video interviews are a time-saving alternative to the traditional phone screens. PLUS, you gain way more insight on candidates. On video, you see personality, energy, charisma, professionalism and most importantly, body language.The Tie-Breaker GapIn the previous two scenarios, video interviewing helps shrink the gap. In the scenario I like to call the Tie-Breaker Gap, video interviewing widens it. In todays ultra-competitive job market, recruiter s inboxes are flooded with similar looking cover letters and resumes from candidates with almost identical qualifications. How do you judge one candidate versus another? One answer could be a phone screen, but we just discussed how inefficient that can be. The other option is to use video in the hiring process. For example, create a set template of questions for a one-way video interview. Send the template of questions to candidates who are similar on paper and let the tie-breaker begin. Evaluate whats not on paper and youll be able to better differentiate between candidates and widen the gap between candidate As qualifications and candidate Bs.After examining how video interviewingbridges(or widens in the case of the tie-breaker) multiple gaps in the hiring process, one should be able to see how it can be integrated as a key piece of the screening process leading up to a traditional interview. An in-person interview is a big investment of time. The preparation, theinvolvementof mul tiple individuals, the scheduling and more can make one dread the traditional interview altogether. However, if smarter decision making is enabled by a screening process leading up to the traditional interview, then that investment of time is well worth it because its being spent on a quality candidate and hopefully your next superstar employee. So are video interviews replacing the traditional interview? Ill let you be the judge.

Employee Is Accused of Having an Affair with a Coworker

Employee Is Accused of Having an Affair with a CoworkerEmployee Is Accused of Having an Affair with a CoworkerA reader asked this question about what to do when coworkers think that she is having an affair with another employee. She says, I am good friends with a male coworker, who is not my boss, but a step higher than I am. We talk at work on the days we work together about both work-related issues and non-work-related things. Naturally, it has gotten back to me that people think we are having an affair. Not surprised. Anyhow, one of the other employees complained to my manager that I talk to him too much and I was told by another member of management that it would be coming up in my performance evaluation. My performance evaluation? Okay, a few things you need to know to answer my question. One, I never let my conversations with anyone interfere with doing my job. Two, I want to ask my manager exactly how much time in hours and minutes is talking to someone too much? Three, does s he realize that Im going to have to talk to him to get the job done? Four, and most importantly, I want to know if that is a form of sexual harassment from the accusing coworker. There are some very religious people on my floor and I think they are bothered by us talking because of their own ideas and imagination. Where does it stop? Are they going to pick and choose with whom I am allowed to speak? Why are they being given this power? I have been told that people think Im pretty and that they notice when I walk into a room. HR Response to Employee Is Accused of Having an Affair philanthropisch resources responded, Ive had lots of conversations with male colleagues, and I would be absolutely floored if someone thought that I was having an affair with one of them. The fact that youre not surprised leads me to think that you know youre not behaving appropriately in the geschftszimmer. I know you believe that they are jumping to conclusions because they are religious, but consider for a few minutes that youre jumping to conclusions because they are religious, but lets skip that and go through your questions. What will happen if you ask your manager to define, to the minute, how long you can speak to this coworker? This will absolutely antagonize your boss and support the idea that you are not behaving rationally. It is rather a petty way for you to express your annoyance that in no way adds to your aura of professionalism. Of course, she realizes that you need to talk to this man in order to do your job. What doesnt need to happen is unprofessional behavior. Its the unprofessional behavior that leads people to think that youre having an affair. Not present in your workplace to make any observations but based on experience this is probably a good description of what goes on between the two of you You talk quietly in the corner.You regularly eat lunch together, without other coworkers joining you for the meal.You talk frequently behind closed doors.You arrange your schedule so that youre more likely to be with each other than with others.You touch each other, giving arm pats, and the like.Your conversation suddenly goes quiet when someone else walks into the room.You giggle and make other childish, inappropriate conspiratorial sounds. This is the type of behavior that your manager will want you to stop. She doesnt care that youre discussing work. But, work, in almost all cases, should be discussed in the open, and not behind closed doors. The entrance of another employee to the room or conversation should occur naturally and inclusively. If closed doors are necessary for privacy purposes, youll have closed door conversations with other coworkers as well, and no one will see his behavior as abnormal. But, if this is not the case, then holding private closed-door meetings invites speculation. Do These Actions Qualify As Sexual Harassment or Discrimination? You also asked whether your coworkers complaint about this situation is sexual ha rassment. Nothing youve said here leads any Human Resources practitioner to think youre being harassed or discriminated against because of your gender. This position assumes, though, that your male coworker has been receiving the saatkorn negative feedback. If hes not, you should absolutely bring this up with your manager and, if necessary, with Human Resources. Heres your opening statement Several people have accused me of having an affair with Mark. I have been told that this will be mentioned in my performance appraisal, but not his. We arent having an affair, but regardless, if we were, the response should be the same. Otherwise, it smacks of discrimination on the basis of gender. That should snap your boss into action, but if it doesnt, you escalate it. When you escalate your complaint, put it in writing with the following subject line Official complaint of gender discrimination. The reason for this is that it leaves the company with no way to pretend you havent complained abou t what you believe is illegal behavior. Actions to Take About the Coworkers Speculating About an Affair The next logical question is what should you do about your coworkers and their speculation. Your relationship with your other coworkers has probably not been great. People dont generally accuse their friends of bad behavior at work. Is it possible that youve categorized these people as not my type, the same way you think theyve categorized you? Focus on building positive relationships with the others at the office and you may find that the gossip problem resolves itself. If it doesnt, you need to speak up every time someone says something rude to you. Why would you say that? and then smile and wait. And wait. And wait, until you get a response. People dont expect to have to explain a rude comment, and it can become very uncomfortable when you call them out on it. When they sputter a response you can add, Thats not true. I really wish you wouldnt gossip about me. Now, one last issue. People say that youre pretty and are noticed when you walk into the room. As long as you are dressed appropriately for the business, thats a compliment. If youre not dressed appropriately, thats a nice way of indicating that you should change your wardrobe. Assuming that youre dressed appropriately, the proper response to such a statement is, Thank you. Nothing more. Even if they mean it as an insult, youve just stumped them by being polite. And thats a winning situation for you.

How You Can Simplify Your HR System

How You Can Simplify Your HR ordnungsprinzipHow You Can Simplify Your HR SystemSimplifying the approach that HR uses to deliver services to employees is critical for the success of the Human Resources function to meet employee needs. You know that Human Resources leaders are a significant source of support and comfort to employees in both their personal and professional lives. HR is a service business and simplifying your HR ordnungsprinzip will accelerate delivering services to employees. You want to help employees advance our HR Stheir careers and resolve issues between employees and their managers. Simplify Your HR System to Accelerate tafelgeschirr Delivery Recognize, too, that HR also supports employees through some of the most important and momentous events in their lives, including marriage, childbirth, and battling a serious illness. But too often, routine administrative services, such as answering the same questions over and over again or completing simple administrative transactions, consume the bulk of HRs time when the need to simplify and accelerate the provision of HR services is key. Reduce HRs Administrative Workload The key to reducing that administrative workload is training employees to become more self-sufficient and automating more mundane tasks.Thats where applying a service management approach to the delivery of HR services can help. Service management simplifies the delivery of routine administrative services, freeing HR staff time to focus on high-value activities. The typical HR organization likely has systems for managing employee data and pay-related activities. However, it probably does not have an automated system for handling employee inquiries and fulfilling requests. Consider what happens when an employee receives a summons to jury duty chances are the company still relies on physical paperwork or a string of emails to deal with the employees request for the paid time away from work. Because employee interactions are com monly tracked using emails and spreadsheets, employee requests are often missed or overlooked. Mistakes then happen, creating further frustration and additional work for HR in their delivery of services to employees. With email, no easy way exists to see if an employee request is stalled or to pinpoint and eliminate process bottlenecks. Similarly, its hard to analyze and respond to employee needs- for instance, identifying frequently requested information and making sure this is available online. Manual administrative processes frustrate employees and are a huge drain on HR teams time. A survey finds that it appears that HR consistently spends about 25% of its time on strategic business partnership activities, about 50% of it on providing and developing HR services and programs, and about 25% of it on recordkeeping and auditing employment practices. Use a Service Management Approach to Simplify Your HR System to Meet Employee Needs The service management approach eliminates thos e tedious, time-consuming processes. It doesnt just replace email- it transforms how HR engages with employees. Think of service management as the perfect combination of administrative assistant and project manager. It responds instantly to employee requests, progressiones cases, automates repeatable manual processes, and even manages complex cross-departmental activities such as employee onboarding and off-boarding. Service management never forgets or makes mistakes, always follows up with people so things get done, and lets you know if theres a problem it cant solve. It also shows you where your employees spend their timeso you can optimize your resource deployment and maximize productivity. How Service Management Integrates With Simplifying Your HR System to Accelerate Service Delivery Service management doesnt replace your current Human Capital Management system- it integrates with it and complements it, giving you visibility and control of the work you probably do mostly vi a email today. It also provides that same level of visibility to employees. They can see the status of their inquiries, rather than feeling that their requests disappeared into a black hole soon after they submitted them. Providing employees with the ability to supervise the progress of their requests significantly reduces the number of frustrated follow-up emails, phone calls and in-person visits to HR, further cutting HRs administrative workload. Advantages of an HR Service Management Approach Service management starts with the roll-out of a web-based HR portal where employees can find HR information and request HR services. Ideally, employees can access this portal on their work PCs, home computers, laptops, and their smartphones and tablets. This lets them take control of their basic HR needs- such as benefits enrollment or status change updates. Employees simply choose the actual services they need from a service catalog or search for information in the portals knowledge ba se. When an employee submits a request through the portal, the service management system automatically creates a case and shepherds it through the complete fulfillment process. This includes assigning the case to the right HR expert, automatically routing the case from person to person as each fulfillment step is completed, and maintaining a full case history. You can also extend this service to other departments. For example, service management systems can automatically tischset up IT accounts or request office space for new hires as part of the onboarding process. The service management system drives the end-to-end HR service delivery processesand knows how these processes are performing. For instance, it can automatically tell you when a case is stalled so you can take action. It also generates a wide range of KPIs and other process metrics- such as how well your team responds to employee inquiries. It can even analyze the types of knowledge-base queries making it easy to identif y and fill in any content gaps. The Bottom Line HR professionals choose to pursue a career in HR because they want to help people, not spend their days filing papers, updating spreadsheets and responding to emails. Too often, mundane requests and piles of paperwork interrupt that work, which frustrates them and the employees theyre trying to help.HR is a service dienst and can look to the example of its fellow service provider, the IT department. IT has taken the lead in many enterprise efforts to apply a service management discipline to automating the submission and fulfillment of IT help desk requests.Automating these tasks enables IT to focus on more strategic work that can help the company meet its broader business goals, and better demonstrate ITs value.A service management approach iskey to HR raising its profile to business leaders by simplifying HR systems to deliver higher-quality services and increased employee satisfaction while simultaneously reducing its own workload. H R can devote its time and expertise to more strategic activities that move its business forward.

The most affordable private colleges for low-income families

The fruchtwein affordable private colleges for low-income familiesThe most affordable private colleges for low-income familiesDespite rising sticker prices, many of the most elite private schools remain in reach for even the poorest Americans. Contrary to popular belief, research suggests that the most selective colleges and universities are often the most affordable options for low-income families due to need-blind admissions and generous financial aid programs. However, many low-income families are intimidated by high published tuition satzs and look only at seemingly less expensive and less competitive schools.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard titeling Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moraResearch conducted by The Hamilton Project, partee of the Brookings Institution, shows a clear correlation between cost and selectivity. Tuition data from the National Center for Education Statistics and selectivity classifications from B arrons indicate that the most competitive schools have the highest comprehensive costs (including room and board), but also the lowest out-of-pocket costs for students from the bottom income group. This means that students from low-income families should bedrngnis be discouraged by high sticker prices at selective schools. Often, these schools will be the most affordable option while providing mora educational resources that will better prepare them for the future.According to David Feldman, Professor of Economics at the College of William and Mary and coauthor of The Anatomy of College Tuition, Tuition discounting is not new, but for a variety of reasons the size of the average discount has grown at both public and private universities over the past 25 years. This growing use of discounting is part of the reason for rapidly rising list price tuition in recent years.Data from the College Board on college pricing and student aid underscore Feldmans point. Driven up by rising costs an d increased tuition discounting, since 1998, the published tuition, fees, room, and board at private non-profit four-year institutions increased an average of 2.7 percent per year (after adjusting for inflation). The average net price for tuition, fees, room, and board, however, increased at an average 1.3 percent per year, creating a growing gap between published tuition and what students actually pay.As family incomes have stagnated over the past decade, schools have had to increase tuition discounting to retain a socioeconomically diverse student body. The attempt to maintain economic diversity pushes up list price tuition, and this is not a bad thing, said Feldman.The main issue is that many low-income families do not understand the financial aid process. According to Feldmans report, the complexity of the financial aid system is a strong deterrent for low-income students applying to college. The large amount of paperwork and the uncertainty about financial aid until the end of the application process disincentivizes even high-achieving students from applying to selective schools. Simplifying the financial aid application process is an important first step in addressing these issues.The Expanding College Opportunities project created by The Hamilton Project offers similar insight into the power of information. Its researchers showed that by having strategic informational interventions during the college search and application process, low-income students applied to, were admitted to, and enrolled in more selective schools. These students also paid less to enroll in selective schools than they would have paid at less selective schools.To find which private universities are most affordable for low-income students, HeyTutor analyzed net price and financial aid data for the 2016-2017 school year from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). HeyTutor determined what students in the $0-$30,000 an d the $30,001-$48,000 income brackets would pay out-of-pocket for each school.For some schools the average net price reported by the NCES is negative. This is because aid awarded can cover other costs not recognized in the published price of attendance (for example travel and participation in certain clubs/activities). In addition, for many schools, students in the lowest income group have a higher reported average net price than students in the $30,000-$48,000 group. This can result from the lowest-income group receiving additional aid outside of federal, state, and institutional sources (e.g. private scholarships), which are not included in the NCES average net price calculation.That said, the following list of highly-competitive schools offer some of the steepest discounts for students from low-income families.The most affordable private schools for low-income families20. University of PennsylvaniaAverage net price ($0-$30,000) $7,755Average net price ($30,001-$48,000) $5,323Publ ished total price of attendance $69,880Percentage of students paying full price 42%Undergraduate enrollment 11,716schauplatz Philadelphia, PAThe first of many Ivy League colleges on this list, the University of Pennsylvania is more commonly known as Penn. This urban campus in the heart of Philadelphia is steeped in colonial history and welches founded by Benjamin Franklin. Today, Penn is home to 12 undergraduate and graduate schools, including the prestigious Wharton School of Business. On average, low-income students at Penn pay one-tenth of the published price.19. Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyAverage net price ($0-$30,000) $7,432Average net price ($30,001-$48,000) $4,727Published total price of attendance $65,612Percentage of students paying full price 16%Undergraduate enrollment 4,547schauplatz Cambridge, MALocated just outside of Boston, MIT is a major innovation hub for STEM students and research. The MIT Sloan School of Management also offers business and economics deg rees at both the undergraduate and graduate level. According to MIT Student Financial Services, 72 percent of MIT undergraduates graduate debt-free. MIT is also one of the most selective colleges in the country, admitting only 6.7 percent of undergraduates for the Class of 2022.18. Barnard CollegeAverage net price ($0-$30,000) $6,225Average net price ($30,001-$48,000) $6,207Published total price of attendance $69,912Percentage of students paying full price 50%Undergraduate enrollment 2,544Location New York, NYBarnard College is the only womens college on this list. Students at Barnard can draw upon the vast resources of New York City for academic, social, and professional opportunities. Notably, Barnard has an academic partnership with the neighboring Columbia University. This means that Barnard students can take classes at Columbia, use its libraries, and participate in its student organizations. Half of the students at Barnard College pay the full attendance price, the highest per centage on this list.17. Colorado CollegeAverage net price ($0-$30,000) $5,659Average net price ($30,001-$48,000) $7,729Published total price of attendance $66,124Percentage of students paying full price 45%Undergraduate enrollment 2,107Location Colorado Springs, CONestled at the base of Pike Peak, Colorado College offers the best of city life and outdoor recreation outside of the classroom. Unlike most universities, which use a traditional semester schedule, Colorado College uses a Block Plan, in which students take one class every 3.5 weeks. Colorado College is classified as a liberal arts college and most academic majors are in the humanities, sciences, social sciences, and foreign languages. The published price of attendance is $66,124, and low-income students pay roughly 90 percent less.16. Vassar CollegeAverage net price ($0-$30,000) $4,900Average net price ($30,001-$48,000) $8,522Published total price of attendance $69,010Percentage of students paying full price 24%Undergradu ate enrollment 2,353Location Poughkeepsie, NYVassar College is a small liberal arts school located about an hour and a half north of New York City. Although Vassar has been co-ed since 1969, the college is considered one of the Seven Sisters, a group of historically womens-only colleges. Vassar has more than 100 student organizations, but no fraternities or sororities. Its academics are excellent.15. Washington University in St LouisAverage net price ($0-$30,000) $5,716Average net price ($30,001-$48,000) $6,580Published total price of attendance $68,531Percentage of students paying full price 46%Undergraduate enrollment 7,675Location Saint Louis, MOCasually referred to as WashU, Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university composed of seven undergraduate and graduate schools. WashU is known for its engineering programs, art and design school, and business school. Students can participate in a variety of extracurricular activities, including student media, Gree k life, and sports. For financial aid, Washington University in St. Louis offers more than 125 different academic scholarships and fellowship programs that range from partial to full tuition.14. Swarthmore CollegeAverage net price ($0-$30,000) $6,120Average net price ($30,001-$48,000) $4,422Published total price of attendance $67,110Percentage of students paying full price 37%Undergraduate enrollment 1,577Location Swarthmore, PALocated in the Philadelphia suburbs, Swarthmore College has the lowest undergraduate enrollment on this list at 1,577. Although the college was founded by the Society of Friends (the Quakers), the school currently has no religious affiliation. Similar to Barnard, Swarthmore has partnerships with other schools in the area. Swarthmore students can take classes at nearby Bryn Mawr College and Haverford College through the Tri-College Consortium.13. Brown UniversityAverage net price ($0-$30,000) $5,335Average net price ($30,001-$48,000) $5,459Published total pric e of attendance $69,010Percentage of students paying full price 42%Undergraduate enrollment 6,988Location Providence, RIBrown University is located in Providence alongside Providence College and the Rhode Island School of Design, lending the surrounding area a strong college town atmosphere. Unlike most universities, which require general education requirements and major-specific curriculums, Brown University encourages students to forge their own academic path and has no distribution requirements. Brown University is also part of the Ivy League. The university budgeted $135 million for need-based financial aid in 2018-2019.12. Brigham Young University-IdahoAverage net price ($0-$30,000) $5,235Average net price ($30,001-$48,000) $5,529Published total price of attendance $9,410Percentage of students paying full price 39%Undergraduate enrollment 51,881Location Rexburg, IDBrigham Young University-Idaho has the lowest published total price of attendance on this list, at only $9,410. Fou nded by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, BYU-Idaho is one of the only religiously affiliated schools on this list. The school requires students to follow a faith-based honor code. Academics at BYU-Idaho are varied, and include subjects in the humanities, sciences, engineering, business, and performing arts. BYU-Idaho also has the largest undergraduate enrollment on this list at 51,881.11. Bates CollegeAverage net price ($0-$30,000) $4,999Average net price ($30,001-$48,000) $5,582Published total price of attendance $67,620Percentage of students paying full price 49%Undergraduate enrollment 1,787Location Lewiston, MEBates College is a liberal arts college with a strong sense of community. Many students volunteer, conduct research, or perform work through community-engaged initiatives. The academic calendar is composed of two traditional semesters and one Short Term, which is a five week immersive course that often takes place off campus. Underscoring the schools academ ic rigor, every senior at Bates College must complete a thesis or capstone project. Just under half of students at Bates College pay full tuition.10. Vanderbilt UniversityAverage net price ($0-$30,000) $1,168Average net price ($30,001-$48,000) $6,043Published total price of attendance $64,542Percentage of students paying full price 30%Undergraduate enrollment 6,885Location Nashville, TNNamed after famous industry titan Cornelius Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt University is composed of 10 schools in disciplines like the humanities, music, and engineering. Located in the heart of Nashville, Vanderbilt University offers students an excellent college town with many opportunities to enjoy live music, dining, and entertainment off-campus. The Vanderbilt Commodores are an NCAA Division I team in the Southeastern Conference, and college basketball and football play a large part in student life.9. Yale UniversityAverage net price ($0-$30,000) $4,978Average net price ($30,001-$48,000) $4,392Published total price of attendance $70,570Percentage of students paying full price 41%Undergraduate enrollment 5,746Location New Haven, CTYale University is one of the oldest universities in America and another member of the Ivy League. Yale University has a wide array of academic programs, including music, business, science, and humanities. Yale students live in one of 14 residential colleges throughout the duration of their studies and have ample opportunities for extra-curricular activities. According to its financial aid website, Yale was the first private research university in America to establish need-blind admissions and need-based financial aid for undergraduates.8. Williams CollegeAverage net price ($0-$30,000) $2,780Average net price ($30,001-$48,000) $3,798Published total price of attendance $68,500Percentage of students paying full price 38%Undergraduate enrollment 2,080Location Williamstown, MAWilliams College is a prestigious liberal arts college located in the Berkshires in rural Massachusetts. Unlike most American universities, which offer lecture- or seminar-based education, Williams College also incorporates a tutorial system similar to Oxford University. With tutorials, students rely heavily on independent work, which is supported and critiqued by peers as well as a guiding professor. Williams College is known for small class sizes and its close-knit community.7. University of ChicagoAverage net price ($0-$30,000) $3,620Average net price ($30,001-$48,000) $2,289Published total price of attendance $73,560Percentage of students paying full price 39%Undergraduate enrollment 6,310Location Chicago, ILThe University of Chicago is an urban, private research university. The university features more than 400 student organizations and more than 100 majors and minors. The University of Chicago is also highly selective in its admissions process and is known for its thought-provoking application essay questions. The University of Chicago has the highest publish ed price of attendance on this list at $73,560, but the average low-income student pays under $4,000 per year.6. Washington and Lee UniversityAverage net price ($0-$30,000) $496Average net price ($30,001-$48,000) $3,298Published total price of attendance $63,880Percentage of students paying full price 36%Undergraduate enrollment 1,827Location Lexington, VAOne of the few Southern universities on this list, Washington and Lee University is located in the rural setting of Lexington, VA. Depending on their academic interest, undergraduates may choose to enroll in the College (which includes a variety of majors and minors), or the Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics. The university is home to more than 100 student organizations, including Greek life, an investment society that manages $10 million of the Universitys endowment, and an Outing Club that explores the natural surroundings of Lexington.5. Princeton UniversityAverage net price ($0-$30,000) $1,948Average net pric e ($30,001-$48,000) $1,771Published total price of attendance $63,850Percentage of students paying full price 40%Undergraduate enrollment 5,394Location Princeton, NJPrinceton University is located about halfway between Philadelphia and New York City. This university offers academic programs in humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering. Princeton students live in one of six residential colleges, which provide housing as well as a common social outlet. Many students also choose to join an eating club in their junior and senior years. All Princeton undergraduates are required to write a senior thesis. According to the Princeton admissions website, 82 percent of seniors graduated debt-free in 2017-2018. Like many other colleges on this list, Princeton University is a member of the Ivy League.4. Berea CollegeAverage net price ($0-$30,000) $452Average net price ($30,001-$48,000) $2,197Published total price of attendance $32,994Percentage of students paying full price 0%Undergraduate enrollment 1,670Location Berea, KYLocated in Appalachia, the Christian-affiliated Berea College was the first college in the South to become coeducational and interracial. The college is notable for its mission of providing higher education to students with limited economic means. As such, no students at Berea pay the full published price. Instead, Berea relies on endowment income, donations, and financial aid to cover the costs of attendance. All students must work a minimum of 10 hours per week as part of their aid package.3. Stanford UniversityAverage net price ($0-$30,000) $0Average net price ($30,001-$48,000) $2,548Published total price of attendance $66,184Percentage of students paying full price 33%Undergraduate enrollment 7,064Location Stanford, CAStanford University is the only West Coast university on this list. Located in the Bay Area, about 30 miles from San Francisco, Stanford combines a college town setting with easy access to a big city. Undergraduates can pursue more than 65 different majors, and the school actively encourages participation in research programs and study abroad. Only one-third of Stanford students pay the full tuition price, and the average student in the $0-$30,000 income bracket will pay nothing out of pocket.2. Harvard UniversityAverage net price ($0-$30,000) -$230Average net price ($30,001-$48,000) $632Published total price of attendance $66,609Percentage of students paying full price 28%Undergraduate enrollment 9,965Location Cambridge, MAHarvard University was founded in 1636, making it the oldest university in the country. Harvard is known as being one of the most selective universities in the country as well, admitting less than 5 percent of applicants. Many of the 50 fields of study at Harvard are interdisciplinary, like History and Literature or Chemistry and Physics. For low-income families making $30,001-$48,000, Harvard has the lowest average net price on this list at $632 per year. Harvard is also a n Ivy League college.1. Duke UniversityAverage net price ($0-$30,000) -$1,070Average net price ($30,001-$48,000) $827Published total price of attendance $69,558Percentage of students paying full price 32%Undergraduate enrollment 6,696Location Durham, NCAt -$1,070, Duke University has the lowest average net price for low-income families making $0-$30,000. The negative net price is likely the result of aid awarded to low-income students covering costs not included in the published price of attendance (for example travel and participation in certain clubs/activities). Duke University offers two academic paths for undergraduates the Trinity College of Arts Sciences and the Pratt School of Engineering. In addition to its affordability for low-income students, Duke is known for its stellar college basketball team and rivalry with nearby UNC-Chapel Hill. Duke University had an 8.6 percent acceptance rate for the Class of 2022.Methodology full resultsThe data used in this analysis is from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Net price and financial aid data is for the 2016-2017 school year- the most recent data available. Statistics on enrollment, tuition, fees, room, and board are from the 2017-2018 school year, which is also the most recent data available.Net price data is for full-time undergraduate students entering postsecondary education for the first time and awarded Title IV aid. Average net price is generated by subtracting the average amount of federal, state, local, institutional, and scholarship aid from the total published price of attendance. Total price of attendance includes published tuition and fees, books, supplies, room, board, and other expenses.For this analysis, the average net price for students in both the $0-$30,000 and the $30,001-$48,000 income brackets were evaluated. Both average net price data fields were converted to percentiles, and the percentiles were averaged t o derive a composite affordability score. Institutions were then ranked by this composite score.Only private, not-for-profit, degree-granting, four-year or above institutions with at least 1,000 undergraduates are included. Additionally, special-focus institutions (e.g. performing arts, health, faith-related, etc.), online/distance education institutions, and institutions located in U.S. territories were filtered out.For a complete list of the top 100 most affordable private colleges and universities for low-income students, see the original story on HeyTutor.This article first appeared on Heytutor.com.