CIOs: Don't fall prey to these 10 common mistakes

Ref: http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10-things/cios-dont-fall-prey-to-these-10-common-mistakes/

CIOs run highly technical disciplines and usually come from technical backgrounds. Their strength is in knowing the details of IT work. This gains them respect in the eyes of their staff and enables them to discuss the details of projects. Nevertheless, IT management responsibilities have changed substantially over the past few years. As more IT processes become automated, CIOs must become more business-savvy. CIOs also need strong people, as well as good communication and other soft skills. In this new world, CIOs must embrace new roles. Here are 10 mistakes that can trip up the CIO.

1: Practicing heads-down management

Technical people are task-oriented. They have a natural tendency to get completely immersed in technical problem solving. There is no room for heads-down management in CIOs -- yet many continue to focus on the technical aspects of projects, forgetting about the people and the politics that can completely disrupt work.

2: Staying technical

Great CIOs resist the temptation to get into the technical details of IT projects. They understand that it is their job to ensure that the politics and business environment are optimal for projects. They focus on running the necessary interference for their staff to make conditions for success optimal.

3: Not checking project status

It can be difficult for CIOs to get out of their office and onto the "IT floor." I remember one CIO I worked for as a young staffer. He thought our project was meeting deadline, and the project manager was telling him so, but the project wasn't close. This project ultimately failed -- but it might have succeeded if the CIO had done enough "management by walking around."

4: Forgetting to praise

IT'ers (and their leaders) are committed to what they do. For most, it is enough to know that a job is well done. Still, everyone appreciates a little praise or recognition. Many CIOs don't give it often enough.

5: Not communicating clearly about projects

One of the hallmarks of great communicators is that they make an effort to know their audience. They then find ways to communicate by using familiar terms. Coming from technical disciplines that use jargon, many CIOs must acquire this skill.

6: Not knowing the business

Many IT'ers go through their entire careers without ever working in the end business. Consequently, they have to learn the business on their own to make sure that their efforts are aligned with what the business needs. CIOs know this, but some fail to hone their own business skills -- which is critical for building credibility with other executives in the organization.

7: Forgetting to forge key relationships

Relationship building with other executives and business influencers in the company is one of the most important things a CIO can do. It establishes a cooperative foundation for IT initiatives and improves the odds of project success.

8: Not being objective in IT platform selection

There is plenty of risk in IT projects. This makes it easy for CIOs and other IT decision makers to fall back on vendors and platforms they already know, even though they might not be the best solutions for the projects they're working on. Maintaining objectivity when evaluating technology alternatives helps CIOs keep their options open and approach projects creatively.

9: Failing to learn staff capabilities and limitations

Some IT'ers are experts in specific areas of IT, some are great with end business users, and some are journeymen who can succeed in numerous project roles. CIOs are ahead of the game when they get to know their staff members' individual strengths and weaknesses. CIOs should be facilitating IT training to shore up any staff shortcomings. And they should know which staffers are their go-to players and rising stars.

10: Micromanaging

When projects go wrong, it's tempting to step in and start running them yourself, especially if you're in a smaller shop. But when CIOs do this, they neglect other projects and areas of IT that require their attention. A better strategy is to meet with project managers and help them get the project on track. As a last resort, you might need to replace a project manager -- but it should be with someone else who can take the project -- not you!

What can I do to develop India?

Ref: http://www.quora.com/What-can-I-do-to-develop-India

1. Teach your son (and all male children that you have an influence over) to respect women.
2. Vote -  A large majority of India's urban youth are disillusioned with politics and don't vote. If you want a change, be the harbinger of that change. Don't just sit at home and complain.
3. Read the newspaper (a real one, the Hindu maybe). Keep abreast with the news, know what is happening in your country and have an opinion about it.
4. Stop watching only cricket and try out something else. There are thousands of athletes out there in India playing their hearts out hoping someone would sit up and take notice.
5. Stop taking things for granted. You deserve better from the government you voted to power. It is your duty to point out the things you want changed.
6. Don't pay bribes.  Next time somebody asks you for a bribe don't pay it, however much inconvenience it is going to cause.
7. Switch off all electrical appliances before you leave the house.
8. Control your road rage. Don't honk too much on the roads.
9. Let your kids choose their lives, careers and life partners. You don't own them. They know their dreams and aspirations better than you.
10. Tolerate all religions. Stop believing in the caste system.
11. Spend more money. Go on more holidays. You will be a happier person and you will help the economy grow.
12. Do something physical. Indians are notorious for being inactive. Go out, play, jump off an airplane, scuba dive. But do something.
13. Stop peeing anywhere and everywhere. The next generation is watching and learning.
14. Pay your taxes on time. Help the government to help you.
15. Teach the less privileged. Join an NGO that teaches kids, elders or anybody without access to schools. That is much more beneficial than dropping money into a charity box to satisfy your conscience.
16. Keep your roads clean, dispose your garbage properly, stop spitting on the roads.

5 Qualities Teams Look For in Their Leaders

Ref: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/239156

I’m not a CEO. I’ve never been a founder. And I’m not exactly an “entrepreneur.” However, if you believe that every successful company leader is a byproduct of the very teams they build, which I do, those teams' insights can be just as important to understand these visionary, idiosyncratic and sometimes downright crazy species of executive.

Here’s what I believe are what it takes to work, survive and maybe even succeed with the people we call founders.

1. Looking beyond the strengths and identify the weaknesses.

When choosing a CEO or founder to work for, the majority of individuals tend to focus on the qualities that will make you and the business successful. However, it’s just as important, if not more, to take a holistic view. What does this mean? Don’t just concentrate on their strengths -- pay attention to their weaknesses. Those sneaky traits have a habit of showing themselves at the worst times, and may end up being the thorn in your side that makes work more challenging, or worse, the wrong fit .

Related: 6 Skills Remarkable Leaders Execute Better

It’s important to be realistic and tackle the areas of the business where they are not comfortable. It’s time to get personal and understand the worst first or be held victim to the weaknesses that will hold you and the businesses back from being the most successful it can be.

2. Work with founders that will broaden your business horizons, not stunt your growth.

There’s a certain amount of opportunity that arises from working with a young company filled with fresh ideas. There’s the opportunity to build a stellar team, solve new problems, change the world and even accelerate your own personal growth as well.

Most important, an executive’s opportunity to play a role within a new leadership team and work directly with the founding CEO to create a business is one of the parts of my experience I’m most thankful for. However, if you have a founder whose own vision, wisdom or simple ability to be self-aware about what they know and don’t can greatly impact how much learning you get to do vs. how much time you need to educate.

Gaining more experience and being a leader means you should be teaching and mentoring, but spending more of your time doing that with the CEO vs. the team you hired means you may be learning less. First determine how much time you want to spend learning vs. teaching and make sure your founding CEO maps to that split.

3. Look for a generous spirit and avoid the know-it-alls or credit seekers.

A founder is as much a cultural leader as they are the chief executive. Founders who are unwilling to share the decision-making, the voice or the credit are not only spirit drainers -- they make work less fun. Control seekers are much less likely to empower their executives to lead and make decisions, making the de facto standard operating procedure to involve the founder in every decision or end up waiting for input. This makes for an impotent team and operational inefficiency that can be the difference between doing well and crushing it.

Related: The 8 Signs of a Bad Leader

4. Question how they will support you, not only how you need to support them.

I once had a manager that described her management style as an inverted triangle, where she was there to support her team. What I love about that is she understood that even strong, high performers need help or support in different ways at different times.

Even the most senior executive needs a leader and a person who’s in their corner and wants them to succeed. All too often the interview process is the leader looking for an executive who can come in and do amazing things for their company. We also need leaders who are going to do amazing things for our teams and our careers.

5. If you’re not interested in having a drink with them, don’t assume you want to work with them.

We spend a lot of time at work, and even more time thinking about work. It seems obvious, but I don’t think enough people ask themselves this question: Would I enjoy grabbing a drink after work with this person? If the answer is no, why would you want to work with them?

As a senior individual, whether on the executive team or not, the impact of the founder or CEO on your every day is significant, even if you don’t have one on ones every week or at all. Their personality, values and likes (and definitely their dislikes) will impact how everyone feels about their day, even if it doesn’t impact the actual work.

Working with founders is more than a job, it’s a lifestyle and selecting which founder/CEO you are going to “walk down the hall” with can’t be done through interviews filled with questions about the business and the culture they want to build. Have a drink with them or anything that tells you if you are interested in partnering with the person to build the business together.

If you don’t like them, you probably won’t like working with them. And I will tell you from personal experience, motivated, happy and encouraged teams perform the same tasks as downtrodden teams much more elegantly.

Five ways to handle being overworked

Ref: http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-11-14/news/56093255_1_family-time-quality-time-work

Every minute of our life counts, and those who learn the art of balancing work and life in a hypercompetitive world are the true achievers. For this, boundaries need to be clearly defined. Prachi Verma brings you some tips on how to walk the fine balance.

1) Stay Within Limits

Know when to say 'stop'. Never burden yourself with too many responsibilities at work or in your personal life. Also, do not set unrealistic deadlines at work. "This will only result in choking yourself and hardly finding any time for yourself, your family and friends. Do not make work overload a part of your lifestyle," says Manu Midha, vice president, planning and strategy at Infibeam.

2) Prioritise Work

Before stepping out of your house, plan your day. This will help you prioritise between the important and not-so important tasks. Also, while planning the day, incorporate the health aspects too, especially food and exercise. If certain tasks at work can be pushed for another day, speak to your manager. There is no harm in checking with your senior rather than doing something that could be pushed for later.

3) Include Regular Breaks

From exercise to work, space out all your activities. At work, compel yourself to get up for regular water breaks. This will ensure that the body is adequately hydrated and gets a regular stretch with a little walk. Also, remember to snack healthy.

4) Spend Quality time with Family

You can easily fall back on your family or friends to find the drive to return to work the next morning. "It is important to spend quality time with your family and friends to relax from the workload. Do not talk work with your family. The family is a huge source of energy, so make the most of it," adds Midha.

5) Try and avoid the constant use of a smartphone

"Mobile technology allows us to remain connected and responsive 24/7. While being connected at all times adds to flexibility, it also interferes with family time, which can result in frustration. You need to set your own boundaries," says Shweta Tangri, vice-president of human resources at Pearson India.

The Steve Jobs Guide To Manipulating People And Getting What You Want

Ref: http://www.businessinsider.in/The-Steve-Jobs-Guide-To-Manipulating-People-And-Getting-What-You-Want/Pitch-with-passion-People-can-be-influenced-by-strong-displays-of-emotion-/slideshow/45006946.cms


Work hard, and others will respect you. Respect is a crucial first step to getting what you want.

Pitch with passion. People can be influenced by strong displays of emotion.

Disarm people with seduction and flattery.

Claim all the good ideas are yours — and if you’re reversing your position, get behind the new idea with full force. Memories of the past can be easily manipulated.

Make decisions quickly and definitively. You can (usually) always change things later.

Build a strong following by using brutal honesty.

Don’t wait to fix problems. Fix them now.

There are two ways to deal with problematic people: Either address them head on…

...Or "follow the line of least involvement" and ignore them entirely.

Strike when the iron’s hot, and strike hard.

When you have leverage, USE IT.

Demand perfection, and don’t settle for anything less.

Learning new Language

Some reference links

http://eqcode.com/wiki/Main_Page


http://cw.tactileint.com/

The Difference of Just A Little More Effort :: Training Principle – The 1.01 Law

Ref: 

http://taiwanrocks.net/training-principle-the-1-01-law/

http://www.chinasmack.com/2014/stories/peoples-daily-the-difference-of-just-a-little-more-effort.html

The people who work just a bit harder than you have actually already flung you far away [are actually already far ahead of you]! Good morning!

A rough translation of the plaque reads

The law of 1.01 :  1.01365= 37.8 The law of 0.99: 0.99365 =0.03

In layman’s terms:

• When we eek out 1% more effort every day, our abilities can grow almost 38 times over the course of a year.
• When we slack off 1% every day, our abilities diminish greatly over the course of a year. (to 0.03 of our original ability)

Is this principle literally true? Probably not.  You are not going to be climbing 38 times harder from spending 1% more time training everyday, and you’re not going to be a weakling a year later if you slack off 1% of the time.

However the general principle holds — pushing yourself just that 1% more beyond your previous limit every day,  can have a huge exponential effect over time — and the reverse holds if you slack off!

8 Ways to Stay Calm During a Crisis

Ref: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/237694

When a serious situation arises at work, your first instinct may be to panic. Unfortunately, severe anxiety and stress can result in a complete meltdown. This response can cause long-term damage to your health and lower your ability to perform optimally.

Many of the world's greatest achievers, including entrepreneurs, athletes and artists, could not have reached their level of success without learning how to stay extremely calm under pressure. They have the ability to develop and maintain a particular state of psychological readiness, a mental preparedness they summon on demand. 

Whether you’re an athlete or own your own company, poise is a prerequisite to peak performance. When you’re composed, sufficiently practiced and self-assured (strong enough to move mental mountains), you are poised for success. 

Here are eight tips to help you keep your cool in stressful situations:

Related: Worried About Managing a Company Crisis? Take These 4 Proactive Steps

1. Slow down.

If possible, don’t react immediately. Instead, be patient and collect as much information as possible. Ask yourself, Is this really going to matter a year from now? If the answer is yes, step back to remove yourself somewhat from the situation. Instead of seeing yourself as an active participant, try to view yourself as a representative of your company. This perspective will help you remain less emotional and improve your ability to make decisions.

2. Stay positive.

When stressful situations occur, your mind may go in a thousand directions and some of your thoughts may be negative. The more your mind wanders, the more difficult it will be for you to remain calm. Stop yourself from beginning to imagine the worst-case scenario. Instead, let go of negative thoughts and refocus your mind on something positive, no matter how small.  

3. Never ask “what if?”

This worst question you could ask yourself or others in the middle of a crisis begins with "what if." This line of questioning induces sheer panic and forces you to process situations that have not occurred and may never happen.

“What if” questions compound the fear and escalate the problem. Say your company has failed to deliver a project on time. Your first instinct may be to think, What if my client decides to hire someone else? That thought could easily lead to the question "What if I don’t make payroll this month?" Instead, focus on the facts and work on a solution.   

4. Take care of your body.

If you make your personal health a priority, you’ll be better equipped to handle a crisis. Eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly and receive plenty of sleep. Exercise lowers the level of stress hormones and helps the body function at its highest level. By improving your health, you’ll increase your self-control, memory and emotional intelligence -- important characteristics that will help you respond well to an emergency. 

5. Limit caffeine.

When you’re in the middle of a dire situation, you might be tempted to run to the break room to grab a cup of coffee. Caffeine may trigger a release of adrenaline, giving you a quick burst of energy and physical strength, only to be followed by a crash marked by fatigue and irritability in some cases. Instead of reaching for that cup of coffee, soda or an energy drink, hydrate yourself with water.

Related: Mentors Can Fill in Any Yawning Gaps as Your Startup Integrates New Grads

6. Call a trusted friend or mentor.

Use your support system and don’t be afraid to ask for advice with a stressful situation. Someone who isn’t emotionally invested in the situation will be able to see the dilemma from a different perspective and can help you arrive at potential solutions. When you reach out to people you trust and respect, you’ll feel more grounded. That security will help you control your stress and anxiety. As you explain the situation, you may even start to share your thoughts out loud, which might prompt you to discover a new approach or solution.

7. Disconnect.

Pull away from the situation for a while, even if only for an hour or two. When you give yourself time to process a dilemma and the surrounding emotions, you’ll be able to approach the situation with a fresh perspective.

8. Develop a coping strategy.

A crisis may require you to put in long hours at the office or spend weekends working at home. If you remain in a prolonged state of stress, you may cause long-term damage to your health and undermine your ability to make rational, informed decisions.

To better cope, develop a ritual you enjoy. Perhaps you'll choose to meditate in the morning. Take regular walks or sign up for an exercise class. Short exercise breaks can increase stamina. These techniques can help you feel more empowered to handle many situations.

How Successful People Deal With Stress

Ref: http://www.techgig.com/readnews.php?category=Hiring&tgnews_link=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F~r%2Fentrepreneur%2Flatest%2F~3%2FmROO1ehIOuI%2F237861&tg_type=rss&tgnews_id=50434

A survey by TalentSmart showed that 90 percent of top performers know how to manage their emotions in times of stress so that they remain cool, calm, and able to do what needs to be done.

That’s an important lesson in and of itself for all of us - because all of us experience stress in our lives. Research has shown that some stress is good for us: it helps us perform at optimal levels. Too much stress, however, can have serious psychological and physiological repercussions.

Since we can’t necessarily avoid most stress - especially in our work environments - it’s to our benefit to learn how to deal with it, and learn from the examples of those who are already successful.

According to surveys and other research, successful people have some strategies in common when it comes to managing stress.

They practice gratitude for what they have.

It may sound a little Oprah to you, but developing a gratitude practice is a psychologically proven way to reduce stress and maintain a more positive outlook on life. When you have a more positive outlook (and less of the stress hormone cortisol) you are happier and more productive, too.

They stay positive.

Easier said than done? Sometimes. But successful people tend to be those who see opportunities for growth masquerading as failure, and who look for the lessons learned when something goes awry, instead of wallowing in what could’ve/should’ve been. Maintaining a positive outlook. It’s a popular and proven stress management tool. If affirmations aren’t exactly your thing, try reframing negative thoughts. If you find yourself dwelling on something negative, try adding, “But what I can learn from this is…” Even just noticing that you’re stuck in a negative thought can help you move away from it.

Related: A Few Simple Ways to Have Better Meetings (LinkedIn)

They focus on progress, not perfection.

No one is perfect. Not even the most successful people on the planet are perfect - and they would almost certainly tell you the same. Richard Branson, for example, has had some well known failures in his time, yet has always been blunt about his belief that you fail quickly, fail big, learn from it, and move on. Many of us worship the cult of perfection, but letting it go may release us from a heavy burden of undue stress.

They practice self-care.

Successful people often have the presence of mind to realize that they must care for their most important asset - themselves - in order to continue to be successful. They prioritize healthy habits like getting enough sleep, limiting caffeine and alcohol, getting proper exercise, and switching off from technology periodically. Being overly tired, hopped up on chemicals (like caffeine and alcohol) and constantly monitoring our digital lives puts our adrenal glands into overdrive, and our stress levels through the roof. A truly successful person will strive to find balance to help moderate his stress.

They rely on routines.

One major cause of stress is the number of decisions we have to make in a day. Every decision from whether to have the sandwich or the salad all the way up to hiring and firing decisions weighs on us and causes us stress. Relying on simple routines like having the same lunch every day, answering emails at the same time, or even simplifying your wardrobe can help save your stress and sanity for the bigger decisions that really matter. President Obama (who undoubtedly knows a great deal about stress) mentioned this in an interview with Vanity Fair:

"You need to remove from your life the day-to-day problems that absorb most people for meaningful parts of their day… You’ll see I wear only grey or blue suits. I’m trying to pare down decisions. I don’t want to make decisions about what I’m eating or wearing. Because I have too many other decisions to make. You need to focus your decision-making energy. You need to routinize yourself. You can’t be going through the day distracted by trivia."

Related: Big Data: The 4 Layers Everyone Must Know (LinkedIn)

They keep the big picture in view.

Finally, successful people are able to keep the bigger picture in view, rather than focusing on minutiae. This is about focusing more on the “why” behind what you do than the “how.” For example, you might feel yourself getting stressed out about the fact that you have to work out every day for an hour (the how), but if you focus on the reason you want to work out - to be healthy and live longer - you may find the actual task less stressful.

I hope you find these strategies useful. As always, I am keen to understand how do you manage stress in your life? I’d love to learn your most successful stress-busters in the comments below.

7 tips to manage your tech team

Ref: http://content.timesjobs.com/7-tips-manage-tech-team/

1. Do not unlearn what you know: Keep adding to your knowledge and build a solid understanding of business and technologies required for the business to succeed. Learning should not stop at any level in your professional life. Your experience is your most important trainer.

2. Have high customer focus: Think of yourself as a role model for people around you. Always do what is in the best interest of the organisation with high customer focus. 

3. Be adaptive to change: Carrying a legacy for a long time does not help survive in rapidly changing environment. A good connect with business is a must for success.

4. Know people management: Yoursuccess is based on the success of your team. Know the strengths and weaknesses of each member in your team. Give them enough space to learn and grow with you.

5. Involve your team in decision-making:It is not an ideal situation for an individual to run the show. Always work and deliver as a team. Success should be shared with the entire team and failure should be owned by the leader. 

6. Link between work-life balance and productivity: Always strive for a good work-life balance in the team. Allow people, including yourself, to live a healthy and peaceful life which in turn results in higher productivity at work.

7. Drive innovation: Keep looking for innovative ways to increase operational efficiency at the organisation level or in the work you do with focus on organisational growth. Train your team members to think innovatively, give them space to think and generate ideas and bring them to a forum to share and validate their ideas. This keeps your team motivated and driven to be better than before.

Here Is How You Can Deal With An Angry Boss

Ref: http://www.businessinsider.in/Here-Is-How-You-Can-Deal-With-An-Angry-Boss/articleshow/41096365.cms



Tell someone that you are employed in a big shot company, and they all start saying how lucky you are. Has anyone ever thought how difficult it is for you if you have an angry boss?

One of the most complicated situations in your professional life is when you have a moody boss, and if the mood that he most conveniently slips into is his anger, don't you just think of quitting, every single day?

However, quitting a good job just because of your boss is not a wise decision. Anyway, a little bit of patience and manipulative skills are all it takes to deal with an angry boss.

Here are our two cents on how you can deal with an angry boss in an easier way:

First of all, recognise the type

Believe it or not, there are types when it comes to angry bosses. Some of the categories are:
Pressurising Boss: These bosses like to see their employees fully involved in work, and they want to induce pressure on anyone and everyone who comes under them in the professional hierarchy.

Manipulating Boss: These ones are the worst. They have a lot of contacts and they can threaten you directly or indirectly using their power.

Domineering Bosses: They want their words to be the final commands. Actually, they take the 'boss' word very seriously.

Strategise according to his type
Once you decide the type of boss he is, you should decide on the strategy that you have to follow in your mission of adjusting with your boss.

If your boss is pressurising, always look busy in front of him. Do not ever try to come across as someone who does smart work and easily manages his personal and professional lives. Looking busy in front of your boss would give him the required satisfaction. Know that we are not asking you not to have a personal life, just look busy in your professional one.

If your boss is manipulating, try and be diplomatic. Challenging him would only result in making you look for another job. Try and win his confidence because once you are in his inner circle, his connections can be put to your use as well. This should not mean that you have to butter him at the cost of your self-respect. This just means that you have to learn to be diplomatic.

If your boss is domineering, do not try to openly challenge him. Treat him according to the way he wants to be treated. Do not challenge his decisions. When you do that for a few days and win his confidence, you can talk to him about his habit when he is in a relaxed mood. Be careful because even while doing so, he is your boss and has the upper hand. Choose your words wisely.

How to Deal with an Angry Boss: 5 Simple Tips

Ref: http://civilitypartners.com/deal-with-an-angry-boss/

Everyone knows that an angry boss looks unprofessional. Unfortunately, your boss is still your boss. Creating a good relation with your boss is important. Your boss has the upper hand and can probably find a way to get you fired. With all that said, here are five tips to deal with an angry boss.

1. Listen. Listening is hard, especially when your boss is yelling at you with the disapproving look. Most employees are tempted to retaliate and defend themselves, but a wiser choice would be to listen. Let your boss vent out some of that anger.

2. Acknowledge. Let your boss know that you know he or she is angry. Describe their body language to your boss, such as clenched fist or a red face. This should alert your boss that he or she is acting unprofessional.

3. Repeat. Tell your boss what he or she told you, showing that you were listening. Reiterate the main concerns without repeating negative words that your boss used.

4. Apologize. If you did something wrong, own up to your mistakes and apologize. Even if you don’t see the mistake, apologize because it was clearly a mistake in your boss’ eyes. In the long run, it will slower your boss’ level of anger.

5. Ask. Step up and ask your boss how you can make things better. If your boss responds by saying there is nothing you can do, suggest a couple of your own solutions to the problem. An angry boss usually can’t think of a good solution on the spot, so it is beneficial if you suggest some solutions of your own.

These five tips should help you to deal with an angry boss. In the case that you are not successful, suggest that you continue the conversation at a better time when your boss calms down. Explain to him or her that it may be difficult to communicate when they are angry. If your boss is frequently angry and always treats you with disrespect, speak to someone in a higher position than your boss. It just may be that your boss needs professional counseling.

Java Web framework compared

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Ref: http://zeroturnaround.com/rebellabs/the-curious-coders-java-web-frameworks-comparison-spring-mvc-grails-vaadin-gwt-wicket-play-struts-and-jsf/

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7 Ways To Be a Good Employee and Make Your Boss Happy

Ref: http://lifehacker.com/seven-ways-to-be-a-good-employee-and-make-your-boss-hap-1622335033

Aiming to please your boss isn't about kissing up. When your goal is to make your manager more successful-rather than just yourself-you'll grow as an individual performer, as a professional, and as a part of the team, especially if you're just beginning your career.

This post originally appeared on The Muse.

When my client Angela needed help sorting out a number of career-related issues, her relationship with her manager was at the top of the list. Frankly, it was in shambles. Their working relationship was terrible, they couldn't get along, and Angela even admitted she thought her boss regretted hiring her.

While I'm sure Angela's boss had his own faults, I began to realize that Angela had forgotten the fundamental rule of employment: You are there to make your manager successful. Angela was contentious and argumentative, and I could see how her boss might not consider her someone who made his life any easier.

On the other hand, when I look back at the best staff I had as a manager, they were the ones doing whatever was needed-and with a great attitude-so that we could all be successful together. In short, they made my life easier.

The good news is, aiming to do the same doesn't just help your boss out. When your goal is to make your manager more successful-rather than just yourself-you'll grow as an individual performer, as a professional, and as a part of the team. You'll learn a lot about what it takes to be a leader, expand your empathic skills, and develop your capacity for leadership. Plus, your boss will likely become your mentor and advocate-which will put many more opportunities within your reach.

It's not complicated; it just requires a decision and commitment on your part to make it happen. Here are some starter tips for making your manager's life-and job-easier on a daily basis.

1. Get to Know Your Manager

You can't make your boss' life easier if you don't understand how he or she fundamentally operates. So, your first step is to figure out what he needs from you-and how you should deliver it.

Does he prefer updates delivered in written form or verbally? Spreadsheets or PowerPoint slides? Does he want information conveyed via email, during a team meeting, or on a voicemail?

Getting to know your manager and his preferences will help you deliver the information he needs, the way he needs it. And who doesn't appreciate that?

2. Know Your Boss' Goals

As an employee, you may be so focused on your own goals that you forget that you're actually there to support your manager achieving her goals. So, make it your job to understand the goals, numbers, projects, and other deliverables your boss is accountable for.

It's as simple as asking your manager as part of your one-on-one meetings, "If I'm aware of your goals and priorities, I can better support you in achieving them. Can you share these with me, so that I can help you succeed?" Once you understand her goals, you'll be able to produce deliverables that support her success.

3. Never Let Your Manager Be Blindsided

One rule I always asked my teams to abide by was to never let me be blindsided. In short: No surprises.

So, if you suspect that one of your customers is getting really ticked off and is about to escalate over you-and over your boss-to the VP of customer service, you need to let your manager know. Otherwise, she'll be completely blindsided by the situation, unprepared to handle it, and likely, not too happy with you.

A blindside creates frustration and chaos that usually ends up in a major time-wasting fire drill. Avoid it, and believe me, your manager will thank you.

4. Don't Expect Your Boss to Spoon-Feed You

It may sound harsh, but no manager wants to babysit an employee. So if you have questions about health insurance, where to find the pencils, or how to file an expense report, find a colleague who can help you get your answers.

Save one-on-one time with your boss for work-related matters that require collaboration; issues that allow you to flex your intellectual muscles and prove your worth as an employee.

5. Meet (or Beat!) Your Deadlines

When you get an assignment from your manager, enthusiastically commit to the deadline (this means "I'm on it!" not, "I'll see what I can do"). Then, aim to deliver it at least a day early.

This gives your boss time to flex and adapt in case something comes up-and it always does-rather than sweating it out for you to deliver something at the very last minute.

6. Offer Solutions, Not Problems

Your job is not to constantly point out problems that arise, but rather, to proactively start thinking about what solutions could help address those challenges.

For example, you should never walk into your boss' office to complain about how the shipping department can never get anything out on time. Instead, you should first go to the shipping department, have a conversation about what can be done to improve the situation, and see what you can do to help.

Then, when you do go to your boss about it, you'll be able to let him or her know the action you've already taken to start solving the problem.

7. Do What You Say; Say What You Do

If you say you'll finish a report by Friday for the team update, but you come in Friday morning unprepared because "other things came up," people will probably complain to your manager.

And if that's not enough, if your manager was counting on that report to take the next steps on a project or to present to the executive team, it will inconvenience (read: annoy) him or her even further.

People who are accountable for their actions and follow up on their commitments are dream employees-and their bosses know they can count on them, no matter what.

Employees who work to make their managers successful are golden. Your manager has a tough job-the stress and pressure of which may not be abundantly evident to you. So, help your manager out and develop your own skills at the same time, by doing everything you can to make your boss' job easier. When you're a manager, you'll appreciate the same.

JDBC is better over Hibernate in few scenarios

Ref: http://www.slideshare.net/mortenag/parallel-batch-processing-with-spring-batch-slideshare

Five ways to deal with fighting team members

Ref: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/jobs/five-ways-to-deal-with-fighting-team-members/articleshow/38399215.cms

Managers often come across unpleasant situations, where they find team members locking horns. In such cases, is it best for him or her to not interfere, or does that seem apathetic? Shreya Roy speaks to experts to find five ways to deal with team members who are having a fight.

1. Take Preventive Measures

At work, not having clearly defined boundaries is bound to lead to fights. "Don't create cause for conflict of interest. Give people clearly defined KRAs and deliverables, and ensure there are no overlaps of roles, so that people are not stepping on each other's toes, encroaching on each other's space," says Premlesh Machama, managing director, CareerBuilder, India.

2. Get to the Root of the Problem

Sometimes a fight is nothing but a simple misunderstanding. Speak to the team members individually, and even to peers, to understand what the issue is. "If it is a simple misunderstanding, it can be very easily solved if you just explain to them individually, and get them to reconcile," says Rajiv Burman, managing partner, Light House Partners. If however, someone is being unreasonable, and there is a personal cause for the fight, sorting it out can be far trickier.

3. Get Them to Work Out the Problem

Facilitate an interaction where they can sit together, and thrash out the issue. "If they can't sort it out amongst themselves, get external help, counsellors, conflict resolution experts, workshops, etc," saysRavi Shankar, chief people officer, Mindtree.

4. Approach Without Bias

Sometimes, managers favour one employee over the other. If that is the case, it will only make things worse. Keep your bias out in resolving conflicts. But this does not mean that you don't act upon it, in order to look un-biased. "How you achieve this is by ensuring that both parties are rewarded or punished equally," adds Machama.

5. Separate the Two

This is a good old trick that most have seen even at school. "This is the ultimate possibility. If they are good performers, and you don't want to lose them, separate them. Chemistry is a very real thing, and sometimes, it's just not in your control," says Burman.

5 Unusual Ways to Start Working Smarter, Not Harder

Ref: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/234872?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+entrepreneur%2Flatest+%28Entrepreneur%29

1. Take more breaks: Respecting our natural attention spans

In one of my favorite books, Stephen Covey tells a story about a woodcutter whose saw gets more blunt as time passes and he continues cutting down trees. If the woodcutter were to stop sawing, sharpen his saw and go back to cutting the tree with a sharp blade, he’d actually save time and effort in the long run.

The analogy is an easy one to remember, but harder to put into practice. Here’s what Covey says about sharpening the saw in our lives:

Sharpen the Saw means preserving and enhancing the greatest asset you have-you. It means having a balanced program for self-renewal in the four areas of your life: physical, social/emotional, mental, and spiritual.

Sharpening the saw is a great habit to get into in all areas of our lives, but I think it can be especially beneficial when it comes to work and helping us to avoid burnout.

On average, our brains are only able to focus for 90 minutes and need at least 20 minutes rest thereafter, if we consider our natural ultradian rhythms:

Just getting away from work and having a rest can be a good start.Taking breaks throughout the day* can help you to refresh your mind and reset your attention span.

Another way to implement breaks--especially when you’re busy--is towork in small bursts. The Pomodoro Technique is perfect for this. Just set a timer for 25 minutes, and when it goes off, take a short break. Stretch your legs, grab a drink, check your email, or just sit back and relax.

Or, if you’re really strapped for time, try switching to a different kind of task to give your mind a rest. If you’ve ever tried the 7-minute workout, you’ll understand how this works. As you exercise your arms, your legs get a break. Then exercising your legs gives your arms a break.

When you have lots to do, you can use small, easy tasks like replying to emails or following up a phone call to give your brain a rest from the hard work that takes up the rest of your day.

2. Take naps: One of the most efficient ways to boost your brain function

Research has shown that naps lead to improvement in cognitive function, creative thinking and memory performance. In particular, napping benefits the learning process, helping us take in and retain information better.

The improved learning process comes from naps actually helping our brain to solidify memories:

Research indicates that when memory is first recorded in the brain--in the hippocampus, to be specific--it’s still “fragile” and easily forgotten, especially if the brain is asked to memorize more things. Napping, it seems, pushes memories to the neocortex, the brain’s “more permanent storage,” preventing them from being “overwritten.”

One study into memory found that participants did remarkably better on a test following a nap than those who didn’t sleep at all:

Not only are naps beneficial for consolidating memories and helping us to remember new information (handy if your job includes a lot of research during the day!), they’re also useful in helping us to avoid burnout:

Burnout is a signal that says you can’t take in more information in this part of your brain until you’ve had a chance to sleep.

So when should you be taking a nap? Well, if you pay attention to your body’s natural circadian rhythm, you’ll probably find that you have a dip in energy levels in the early afternoon. This is because we’re actuallydesigned to have two sleeps per day, according to Loughborough University Professor, Jim Horne.

Our bodies are made to sleep for a long period overnight and a shorter stint during the day, which is why our energy levels drop and we felt sluggish or sleepy in the afternoon. Even if you don’t have a nap, this is a good time to listen to your body and have a rest.

3. Spend time in nature

Daniel Goleman, author of Focus: The Hidden Power of Excellence, suggests spending time in nature to help us reset our attention span and relax our minds.

One experiment he mentions in his book tested how relaxed people were when taking a walk down a city street versus in a quiet park. The study found that the level of attention needed to navigate a busy city street is high enough that the walk doesn’t let the brain relax enough to reset our focus levels:

Unlike natural environments, urban environments are filled with stimulation that captures attention dramatically and additionally requires directed attention (e.g., to avoid beinghit by a car), making them less restorative.

Spending time in nature, however, lets our minds fully relax and unwind, helping us to focus for longer when we return to work. Plus, other research has found that for students, motivation to learn is higher when they do so surrounded by nature instead of being inside a classroom. I think I’d probably feel the same if I were allowed to take high school lessons outside.

4. Move around and work in blocks

I read a blog post by Joel Runyon recently about a method he called “workstation popcorn,” which is pretty much what Buffer’s back-end developer Colin has been doing for quite a while.

The idea is that you set up at various cafés, workspaces (or evenpubs, in Colin’s case) to get chunks of work done throughout the day. Workstation popcorn starts with a clear, thought-out to-do list. At each venue, you need to know what you’re going to work on before you get set up, so that you can jump into it immediately.

Joel breaks up his to-do list into sections--one per café that he plans to visit--and each section into three clear tasks. Once he gets through the group of tasks he has set, he moves on to the next café on his list.

Of course, you can sort out your task list however suits you best, but the important part to note is having a clear finishing point based on your task list, rather than the time, when you will move on to a new location. And when you move, cycling or walking is a good way to go, according to Joel:

Use this time to practice your zen, take a break from your screen, and get some movement into your day. Keep your phone in your pocket, and move. Take a break away from work for at least 30 minutes.

I know Colin often finds this break time helpful for thinking through what he’s working on or what’s up next. Joel also noted in his post that he’s been more productive, more active during the day and is working fewer hours since he started this process.

Whenever I’ve tried this in the past, I’ve always found that setting milestones in advance is really helpful. If you’re like me, and you usually have just one or two big projects to work through each day, you might find this useful as well.

If I’m working on a blog post, I’ll often break it into small chunks of work, such as brainstorming the outline, researching and then writing each section, and adding an introduction and conclusion. These smaller tasks help me choose a stopping point for each location I work at, before I get up and move.

Even if you’re staying in the one place, breaking your work into chunks and setting milestones as stopping points can be a good way to work lots of breaks into your day.

5. Check your email first thing in the morning

This one is really counterintuitive, especially if you have read anything online about productivity in the past couple of years. Pretty much everyone says not to do this, but I do it every day and find it really useful. Here are some ways it helps me to be more productive during the day.

If you work in a remote team like we do at Buffer, or a international team, you’ll know what it’s like to have half of your team (or more) working while you’re asleep. Especially if you need to work closely with others, it’s important to check in before you start your workday and make sure you’re on the same page as everyone else.

Since I’ve started working at Buffer, I’ve woken up to emails saying I had typos to fix, I had a new blog post published, and even that Bufferhad been hacked. Getting onto those first thing in the morning helps me make quick decisions about whether my day needs to be adjusted to fit in with what everyone else is doing or if I can go ahead with the tasks I already had planned.

Even in my own startup, which is just a two-person operation, checking email first thing in the morning can be useful. My co-founder tends to find his flow late at night when I’m going to bed, so I often wake up to emails about what’s changed in the product overnight, as well as feedback from customers in different time zones to us.

Of course, I could just wait until I get to my desk to check my email. I could even do it while I’m grabbing a coffee before I start my day. I don’t, though. I often check my email before I even get out of bed. Shock horror, I know! But hear me out--I don’t have email notifications on my phone. I don’t have them on my computer, either. And because that means I have to choose when to check my inbox, I don’t like working with my email app open, since I tend to look at it too often.

So when I sit down at my desk to start my day, I’ve not only checked my emails and replied to anything urgent, I sit down at a computer with no inbox open to distract me from whatever work I want to get started on. I can relax, knowing that I haven’t missed anything important and get on with my day, leaving my inbox processing to be done later.

This won’t work for everyone, but I think it’s worth trying if you’re in a similar situation.