12 habits of genuine people

12 habits of genuine people12 habits of genuine peopleTheres an enormous amount of research suggesting that emotional intelligence (EQ) is critical to your performance at work.TalentSmarthas tested the EQ of more than a million people and found that it explains 58% of success in all types of jobs.People with high EQs make $29,000 more annually than people with low EQs. Ninety percent of top performers have high EQs, and a single-point increase in your EQ adds $1,300 to your salary. I could go on and on.Suffice it to say, emotional intelligence is a powerful way to focus your energy in one direction with tremendous results.But theres a catch. Emotional intelligence wont do a thing for you if you arent genuine.A recent study from the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington found that people dont accept parade of emotional intelligence at face value. Theyre too skeptical for that. They dont just want to see signs of emotional intelligence. They want to know that its ge nuine - that your emotions are authentic.According to lead researcher Christina Fong, when it comes to your coworkers They are leidlage just mindless automatons. They think about the emotions they see and care whether they are sincere or manipulative.The same study found that sincere leaders are far more effective at motivating people because they inspire trust and admiration through theiractions,not just their words. Many leaderssaythat authenticity is important to them, but genuine leaders walk their talk every day.Its not enough to just go through the motions, trying to demonstrate qualities that are associated with emotional intelligence. You have to be genuine.You can do a gut check to find out how genuine you are by comparing your own behavior to that of people who are highly genuine. Consider the hallmarks of genuine people and see how you stack up.Authenticity requires a certain measure of vulnerability, transparency, and integrity, Janet Louise Stephenson said.1. Genuine p eople dont try to make people like themGenuine people are who they are. They know that some people will like them, and some wont. And theyre okay with that. Its not that they dont care whether or not other people will like them but simply that theyre not going to let that get in the way of doing the right thing. Theyre willing to make unpopular decisions and to take unpopular positions if thats what needs to be done.Since genuine people arent desperate for attention, they dont try to show off. They know that when they speak in a friendly, confident, and concise manner, people are much more attentive to and interested in what they have to say than if they try to show that theyre important. People catch on to your attitude quickly and are more attracted to the right attitude than what or how many people you know.2. They dont pass judgmentGenuine people are open-minded, which makes them approachable and interesting to others. No one wants to have a conversation with someone who has alr eady formed an opinion and is not willing to listen.Having an open mind is crucial in the workplace, as approachability means access to new ideas and help. To eliminate preconceived notions and judgment, you need to see the world through other peoples eyes.This doesnt require you to believe what they believe or condone their behavior it simply means you quit passing judgment long enough to truly understand what makes them tick. Only then can you let them be who they are.3. They forge their own pathsGenuine people dont derive their sense of pleasure and satisfaction from the opinions of others. This frees them up to follow their own internal compasses. They know who they are and dont pretend to be anything else. Their direction comes from within, from their own principles and values. They do what they believe to be the right thing, and theyre not swayed by the fact that somebody might not like it.4. They are generousWeve all worked with people who constantly hold something back, whet her its knowledge or resources. They act as if theyre afraid youll outshine them if they give you access to everything you need to do your job. Genuine people are unfailingly generous with whom they know, what they know, and the resources they have access to.They want you to do well more than anything else because theyre team players and theyre confident enough to never worry that your success might make them look bad. In fact, they believe that your successistheir success.5. They treat EVERYONE with respectWhether interacting with their biggest clients or servers taking their drink orders, genuine people are unfailingly polite and respectful. They understand that no matter how nice they are to the people they have lunch with, its all for naught if those people witnesses them behaving badly toward others.Genuine people treat everyone with respect because they believe theyre no better than anyone else.6. They arent motivated by material thingsGenuine people dont need shiny, fancy stu ff in order to feel good. Its not that they think its wrong to go out and buy the latest and greatest items to show off their status they just dont need to do this to be happy. Their happiness comes from within, as well as from the simpler pleasures- such as friends, family, and a sense of purpose- that make life rich.7. They are trustworthyPeople gravitate toward those who are genuine because they know they can trust them. It is difficult to like someone when you dont know who they really are and how they really feel. Genuine people mean what they say, and if they make a commitment, they keep it.Youll never hear a truly genuine person say, Oh, I just said that to make the meeting end faster. You know that if they say something, its because they believe it to be true.8. They are thick-skinnedGenuine people have a strong enough sense of self that they dont go around seeing offense that isnt there. If somebody criticizes one of their ideas, they dont treat this as a personal attack. T heres no need for them to jump to conclusions, feel insulted, and start plotting their revenge.Theyre able to objectively evaluate negative and constructive feedback, accept what works, put it into practice, and leave the rest of it behind without developing hard feelings.9. They put away their phonesNothing turns someone off to you like a mid-conversation text message or even a quick glance at your phone. When genuine people commit to a conversation, they focus all of their energy on the conversation. You will find that conversations are more enjoyable and effective when you immerse yourself in them. When you robotically approach people with small talk and are tethered to your phone, this puts their brains on autopilot and prevents them from having any real affinity for you.Genuine people create connection and find depth even in short, everyday conversations. Their genuine interest in other people makes it easy for them to ask good questions and relate what theyre told to other imp ortant facets of the speakers life.10. They arent driven by egoGenuine people dont make decisions based on their egos because they dont need the admiration of others in order to feel good about themselves. Likewise, they dont seek the limelight or try to take credit for other peoples accomplishments. They simply do what needs to be done without saying, Hey, look at me11. They arent hypocritesGenuine people practice what they preach. They dont tell you to do one thing and then do the opposite themselves. Thats largely due to their self-awareness. Many hypocrites dont even recognize their mistakes. Theyre blind to their own weaknesses. Genuine people, on the other hand, fix their own problems first.12. They dont bragWeve all worked with people who cant stop talking about themselves and their accomplishments. Have you ever wondered why? They boast and brag because theyre insecure and worried that if they dont point out their accomplishments, no one will notice.Genuine people dont need to brag. Theyre confident in their accomplishments, but they also realize that when you truly do something that matters, it stands on its own merits, regardless of how many people notice or appreciate it.Bringing it all togetherGenuine people know who they are. They are confident enough to be comfortable in their own skin. They are firmly grounded in reality, and theyre truly present in each moment because theyre not trying to figure out someone elses agenda or worrying about their own.Travis Bradberry is the co-author of Emotional Intelligence 2.0 and the co-founder of TalentSmart.This article originally appeared on LinkedIn.

4 Things to Consider Before a Career Switch

4 Things to Consider Before a Career Switch4 Things to Consider Before a Career SwitchChanging jobs is a stressful experience. Some will say it is like adding a new full-time job on top of your current position. If you want to change careers, you can expect to almost double the time it takes you to find a job. Before changing jobs or making a career switch, consider ansicht 4 things.1. Do you want a job change or career switch?Changing jobs is a bit easier than changing careers. It means you still have the same connections within a career. This is useful to you as you begin your job hunting process.However, if you are making a career switch, you have a whole new batch of connections to make. Some new networking is called for, as well as, things like resume makeovers or job interview prep. These will be needed as you will be meeting with new people in a new career. You also have new skills to learn.This does not mean it cannot be accomplished. It simply means the workload is different . It is safer to first examine the reasons why you want to leave your current job. Is it the job you dont like or the career?2. Talk to a career coachIt is great to seek out a career coach to get a dispassionate point of view. A career switch can be an emotional time. You need that person who can look at what you are doing and give you honest advice.You may not like what you hear all the time, but that is the point. The belastung thing you want is a career coach who accepts your money only to tell you what you want to hear.Career changes do not happen overnight. Talk to someone who has experience in dealing with people who try to make the career switch.3. Are you prepared to be paid less?The job you have now pays you well because you worked for it. Changing careers could mean starting all over again. And typically people without experience are not paid as well as experienced professionals. You may need to consider that a career switch means getting paid less.More so, given the time it takes to find a new job in a new career, you have to consider your current financial responsibilities. Bills, rent, mortgage, food, and yes, interviewing for work all carry a cost. Make sure you have a long-term financial plan in place.4. Are you prepared to answer that one question without complaining?You cannot avoid it. It will happen. These interview questions will come up in every interview you have during your career switchSo, tell me...Why are you changing careers now? You so much experience in your current career.What they are really asking you is something to think aboutAre you just leaving your current career to take a break because you are unhappy? Will you go back to it again later, if this new career gets difficult?If your response to these questions sounds like complaining, they will assume you are not ready for a career switch. The reason is that the right time to switch careers is usually when you feel like you have conquered it. You did it all in one career, and now you are happy to try a new one.Why does this matter? It paints the picture of you as someone who does not run away from challenges. Above all, you come across as confident and positive, the type of person a company loves

5 To-Dos After You Accept a New Job

5 To-Dos After You Accept a New Job5 To-Dos After You Accept a New JobSo, youve just accepted a new job offer. Congrats The first thing you should do is call up your best friends and make plans to celebrate (obviously).But after youve toasted to your latest success, you may find yourself in unfamiliar territory. What exactly is the proper protocol for leaving your job? And is there anything you should be doing to prepare for your new one?As someone who just made job change 4, I can tell you that although circumstances are always different, there are certain things that can help make any transition go more smoothly. Here are five things youll need to know.1. Relax, Then Go Talk to Your BossYou may be feeling a little nervous about telling your boss youre leaving- and thats understandable. But perspektives are, this is not the first resignation he or she has ever heard. If your boss is good, he or she will want the best for your professional growth and will be happy for your new opport unity- even if that means youre changing companies. (And if he or she is on the frosty side, then that only confirms that you made the right decision)Whatever the case, though, youll still want to give your boss the professional courtesy of telling him or her first. As much as you want to tell your best office buddies the news, save your excitement until you find out how your boss wants to handle the announcement. Depending on your situation, he or she may want to tell your kollektiv in order to stop the rumor mill or to explain how transitional activities will work. Make sure that you understand how your departure will be announced before you go spilling the beans- then figure out a departure strategy that will work best for everyone.Related Moving on How to Quit Your Job With Grace2. Dont Forget the PaperworkGet ready- once you give your notice, there may be a lot of paperwork coming your way, even before you fill out your new W-4 forms. If your current company needs an official l etter of resignation, prepare that right away. If youre going to be staying on your employers health insurance plan through COBRA, make sure you understand the laws surrounding your policy, and read over those notices youll get in the mail. Lastly, you may want to check out the transition steps needed to roll over your 401(k) or other retirement fund to your new employer. The last thing youll want to do is miss out on the company match at your new gig3. Be Specific with Your Job Transition PlansYour boss has enough on his or her plate without having to worry about how your duties will be taken care of once youre gone. So, the best thing you can do to leave on great terms is to be proactive and give him or her more specifics on how exactly you will transition your day-to-day responsibilities. Set up a meeting and discuss your ideas on who would best be suited to take over in the interim, and then give a specific schedule on what and who you will train. This lets him or her know that you have a plan, and that everything from the most important tasks to the most mundane (but necessary) ones are covered.Related How to Make it Easier on Your Team When You Leave a Job4. Keep in Touch With Your New EmployerEven after youve signed the acceptance letter and decided on a start date, you should still expect to stay in contact with your new employer during the transition time. There may be things that require your immediate attention- for example, my latest employer required a drug screening and background check, so I had to make sure that I promptly made my appointment at the clinic and submitted all the necessary paperwork. I also received lots of paperwork from menschenfreundlich Resources, and I promptly confirmed with them that I had received it. No matter what your new employer needs, get it handled as soon as possible- going incommunicado for long periods of time doesnt exactly send a great message.On a more fun note, I got a few congratulatory emails from people I had interviewed with. If your co-workers reach out to you, be sure to email them back, thank them, and tell them how excited you are to be part of the team. All of this extra contact will help relieve some new-kid awkwardness on the first day.5. Make the Most of Your Time OffIf you managed to work in a little break time before starting your new job- even if its just a day or two- use that time to your advantage. Most importantly, try to organize your life a bit. Youre going to be busy learning a lot of new things, so the last thing youll want to worry about is a dirty apartment or empty refrigerator waiting for you at home. Use the time off to clean, organize, go grocery shopping, get a car wash, and run pesky errands that you never had time for before. Who knows when your next vacation will roll around, so heres your chanceIf you managed to negotiate a longer break time between jobs (which I recently did), I would suggest doing those things you cant normally do during the weekday. In my case, I relished golfing in the middle of the day and working out at 9 AM- instead of 515 AMAnd finally, relax and pamper yourself a bit. You may be in for some long hours (not to mention information overload), so treat yourself to that massage or beach day while you can. Youll be relaxed, rejuvenated, and organized- and ready to start that new adventure.Related 3 Ways to Make Your Vacation More EnjoyablePhoto of man on phone courtesy of Shutterstock.