Unemployment is a scary sounding word. In today’s economy it seems typical to be “between jobs” for an extended amount of time. Have you ever considered the psychological effects of being out of work? New research shows that extended unemployment can even change someone’s personality.
Good employees may do whatever is asked of them, but better employees don’t wait to be told: they assess the situation, take initiative, and make positive changes on their own. But where can we find these magical people? New research shows that certain types of people are more likely to be proactive, and there is also something employers can do to encourage proactive behavior in the workplace.
For some jobs, working from home is just not possible. This is especially true if you are an assembly line technician, postal worker, coal miner, or pirate. But in the new economy, many professions require little else but a computer and mouse. This is why telework—or working from home—is all the rage. But does it work? And is it good for employees?
In recent memory, we’ve seen seemingly well-intentioned CEOs engage in unethical behavior that eventually leads to organizational ruin. Why do they do it? Don’t these executives stand to lose the most from organizational failure? After all, their lives and reputations are most intertwined with the company. Fortunately, a groundbreaking theory is beginning to make sense of this baffling situation.
We are the few, the proud, the performance-prove goal oriented! True, we have a slightly cumbersome name, but don’t let that fool you. We seek to achieve, to demonstrate our mastery, and to make sure everyone knows how much better than you we are. But starting today, we are on your work team. Will we help your team achieve success, or will we be too caught up in competing with you for personal glory?
Do you have a co-worker with whom interacting is draining? Have you ever worked with someone who was consistently aggravating, challenging, or rude? These types of relationships plague employees and organizations, and are even related to decreased job performance. However, de-energizing relationships can be managed and remedied, specifically through something psychologists call “thriving.”
Many popular books are written on how to succeed at high stakes negotiation, but researchers continue to study specific techniques to determine what really works. What about the emotion of sadness? If you need something from someone, are you more likely to get it if you let your lip tremble and solemnly wipe a tear from the corner of your eye? Or is that going to backfire?
Even though I-O psychologists have made a pretty convincing case for selecting employees based on intelligence, the case for selecting employees based on personality is less clear, and oftentimes debated. If you’re not convinced yet, new research shows that manager personality may not only impact individual job performance, but may also impact a company’s bottom line. Will you jump on the personality bandwagon?
It is difficult for employees to completely separate their home lives from their work lives. Stress that develops at home can actually spillover into the work environment, which leads to negative health outcomes for employees and negative organizational outcomes. A new study shows why organizations need to be on the lookout for employees who are experiencing stressful events in their personal lives.
In today’s world of work, you’re always thinking about the next job. But have you thought about how your resume makes people perceive you? Have you thought about what aspects of your resume might make you seem more hirable and land you the job of your dreams? If you haven’t thought about these things, it’s not too late. Recent research provides some practical advice on how you can make your resume shine!
