Avoid These 10 Surefire Ways to Annoy Your Manager

Avoid These 10 Surefire Ways to Annoy Your ManagerAvoid These 10 Surefire Ways to Annoy Your ManagerIts an uphill battle to be successful if you dont have a good working relationship with your manager. While results are the most important measure of success, great results can often be overshadowed if youre always doing little things that annoy your manager. Ive been fortunate to have talented, hardworking, likable employees throughout my career as a manager. But Ihaveheard stories from other managers Here are 10 things to avoid doing in order to stay in good standing with your manager Having to Be Reminded Yes, we all let things slip through the cracks now and then. Its been my experience that some employees are the same ones who need to be consistently followed up with when others seem to be able to respond the first time they are asked. As a manager, I expect that when I ask a question, ask for a piece of information, or ask for something to be done, I assume it will happen. If you cant, or if you need more time, then let me know, dont just ignore the request. Keeping commitments is parte of being a professional. Not Being Able to Prioritize With the exception of brand-new employees, experienced professionals should know how to juggle a lot of balls at once, and which ones deserve more or less attention. When an employee goes to a manager and asks for help in prioritizing his own work, the employee comes across as clueless and helpless. Making Excuses When a mistake is made, just own up to it and fix it. No lame excuses, finger pointing, blaming, drama, etc. Be accountable Not Being a Team Player When a coworker is buried, offer to help. Dont wait for your manager to ask. If you are annoying your co-workers, your manager will eventually hear about it. Dont be the employee whom your co-workers have to speak to their manager about. If you have a problem with a co-worker, try to resolve it with her firstbefore you take it to your anfhrer. Bad-Mo uthing Your Manager Yes, we all need to complain about our managers now and then. Just dont overdo it, and assume that anything you say could get back to your manager. Besides, when you constantly bash your boss, what does it say about you? That youre stupid enough to put up with working for a jerk? Challenging Your Manager in Front of Your Managers Boss If you disagree with your manager or have a concern, bring it up privately with your manager. Dont embarrass or undermine your manager. Blatantly Sucking Up Its a good idea to treat everyone with the same high degree of respect. If you follow that rule, your boss doesnt need any more respect than anyone else, or it comes across as sucking up. The same goes for gift giving. Please, no extravagant holiday or birthday gifts for the boss. Not Keeping Your Boss Informed Sure, no one likes to bemicromanagedand everyone hates status reports, but managers need to havesomeidea of what youre working on. They also hate to be surpr ised, so going back to No. 3 if there is bad news, make sure your manager hears it from you first. A Lack of Common Sense Heres a phrase you dont want to hear from your managerYou did what? Seriously? I mean, what you were thinking? Passing the Monkey A saying from the classicHarvard Business ReviewarticleManagement Time Whos Got the Monkey? in which a managers employees keep passing their problems (monkeys) to the manager to solve. In other words, upwards delegation. Avoiding these 10 annoying behaviors will give you a better chance of having a positive relationship with your manager and allow your great work to shine on its own.

Petting a dog or a cat can be a massive stress reliever study

Petting a dog or a cat can be a massive stress reliever studyPetting a dog or a cat can be a massive stress reliever studyIts finals week and that means its crunch time. That final stretch of the semester usually comes with a lot of studying which is usually followed by a lot of stress.If the stress becomes too unbearable, petting the stress away with cats or dogs can have positive stress reduction benefits, according to new recent research.A study commissioned by Washington State University found that as little as 10 minutes of comfort from an animal can have a significant impact on your stress levels. The research, published in AERA Open, is considered the first of its kinds, according to researchers.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moraPrrrrrr your stress awayStudents in our study that interacted with cats and dogs had a significant reduction in cortisol, a major stress hormone, s aid Patricia Pendry, an associate hochschulprofessor in WSUs Department of Human Development, in a press release.Almost 250 college students were involved in the study. The participants were divided into four different groups and each was assigned different roles with the animals. The first group was allowed to have hands-on interaction with cats and dogs for about 10 minutes, where they were allowed to pet or play with them.The second group observed others who were able to pet with the animals as they waited for their time, and the third group was forced to watch a slideshow of the animals used in the study. The fourth group was made to wait, which meant handing over their phones for 10 minutes. They were told that they would be able to interact with the animals.The study examined each participants cortisol level, which is the human bodys main stress hormone, according to WebMD. Researchers took saliva samples and found students who had direct interaction with the animals had signi ficantly less cortisol in their saliva after the interaction.We already knew that students enjoy interacting with animals and that it helps them experience more positive emotions, Pendry said. What we wanted to learn was whether this exposure would help students reduce their stress in a less subjective way. And it did, which is exciting because the reduction of stress hormones may, over time, have significant benefits for physical and mental health.

How much money Americans need for economic security in every state

How much money Americans need for economic security in every stateHow much money Americans need for economic security in every state1 out of 3 adults in the U.S. is economically insecure, meaning they dont have the resources to provide for housing, food, transportation and childcare.

Survey 20% of people say they dont follow a monthly budget

Survey 20% of people say they dont follow a monthly budgetSurvey 20% of people say they dont follow a monthly budgetResearch has found that 31% of Americans have at least six months worth of money put aside for emergencies, but recent data from Comet Financial Intelligence shows that 20% dont use a budget to keep track of their money over the course of a month and 23% dont even have a savings account.Relying on self-reported data, Comet surveyed 1,002 people using Amazons Mechanical Turk.These are the areas where people fall short with their moneyWhile 67% of people surveyed say they havent been to a financial seminar or program,just under one-quarter of them say they dont have a financial savings account.Many people also dont seem to have a clue about what its like to be a financial advisor.The 10 things that freak people out the most when it comes to moneyThe most popular worry is putting money away for retirement at 63.4%, while the least popular one is frivolous spending at 16.3% . Being able to go on a major trip is also a concern for people surveyed.What you do with your money is ultimately your choice, but act wisely - how you use it can have a huge impact on your quality of life.

The most effective leaders dont care if they are hated or loved

The most effective leaders dont care if they are hated or lovedThe most effective leaders dont care if they are hated or lovedOn Tuesday, Elon Musk announced that Tesla would begin laying off about 9% of its workforce.Perhaps unsurprisingly, many employees who had been let go took to Twitter to share their thoughts.And yet, as Bloomberg and Business Insider reported, some former employees expressed surprisingly warm feelings toward Musk and toward his organization.I just want to let you know that I really enjoyed working for Tesla, one person tweeted. No hard feelings about being let go, another wrote.They still believe in the vision and in the mission of the company, said Art Markman, a professor of psychology at the University of Texas at Austin.Its evidence of the effective way Musk manages his staff, Markman told Business Insider.When Musk made the decision to eliminate some of those positions, he welches clearly not making friends, but still, the people who worked for him believ ed enough in his vision and respected that vision enough that they accepted that this was something that was necessary to do.Markman used the Tesla firings to illustrate a broader point about leadership. The most successful leaders, according to Markman, arent preoccupied with whether their subordinates like them. Instead, theyre focused on doing whats best for the organization.Whether your subordinates love you as a person or whether they hate you as a person, they have to believe in you, Markman said. Unfortunately, he added, this isnt something most leaders understand.The most powerful combination in a leader is love with an element of fearAn article in the Harvard Business Review, by Harvard professor Amy Cuddy as well as Matthew Kohut and John Neffinger, suggests that both competence and warmth are important attributes in a leader.But the way to influence - and to lead - is to begin with warmth. Even a few small nonverbal signals - a nod, a smile, an open gesture - can sho w people that youre pleased to be in their company and attentive to their concerns.That said, be careful not to display too much warmth, at the expense of displaying dominance. According to Adam Galinsky, a professor of business at the Columbia Business School, its generally easier to add empathy to dominance than vice versa because the empathetic person may potentially come across as weak.Galinsky said the most powerful combination is love with some element of fear. In other words, a leader should be invested in peoples work experience. But if someone steps out of line or fails to achieve something they said they would, consequences should follow.Leading by fear alone can be an effective strategy, Galinsky said - but only for a short time period. If your power slips, he added, a lot of people will be coming for your head.Benjamin Jones, a professor of strategy at Northwestern Universitys Kellogg School of Management, agreed that leading by fear isnt a sustainable management strate gy. If a leader is hated or feared, then people may work hard in some circumstances, but in general they are going to be less mission-driven and probably more likely to do just what is required, Jones said.Still, simply being adored isnt enough its also important to think about why a leader is loved in the first place.Jones said a leader should be loved not because they bring doughnuts to the office, but because they treat their employees fairly and in a way that gives those employees a sense that when they work hard, they are rewarded, and that they are working hard in pursuit of some greater collective mission.If a leader is loved for the right reasons, its going to be a sign of organizational strength and success, he added.Certain personality types may find it difficult not to be universally loved as a leaderOne herausforderung leaders may face in landing on an effective management strategy is that everyone theyre managing is different.Some are motivated by strong, dominant leade rs some are motivated by empathetic leaders, Galinsky said. Leaders are trying to find a strategy to work on both types of people.Jones added that, especially in political contexts, love and hatred are rarely universal. Even if a leader improves social welfare overall, there could be one group who loses out.Leaders may struggle to reconcile different peoples needs. But they may also struggle with more personal issues. Markman explained that certain personality types - namely, agreeable and narcissistic - can have a hard time leading effectively.Agreeable people in leadership positions, Markman said, may have difficulty doing things independently of the reaction that people are going to have to them. Specifically, they want to be liked - and the idea that doing whats best for the organization may turn some people off is scary. In fact, research suggests that agreeable people are less likely to become top managers in the first place.On the other hand, narcissistic people may take o n leadership roles and lash out at people who criticize them, or try to take credit for other peoples work, which can be demotivating.As for highly agreeable leaders, Markman recommended developing personal strategies for, say, giving people news they dont want to hear. Maybe you psych yourself up beforehand with a pep talk.Or, Markman said, you can simply recognize Im an agreeable person. Alienating some people may be necessary, but it doesnt come naturally, and it may feel uncomfortable in the moment.The best leadership strategy is simply to do whats best for the companyMarkman said that many people transitioning into leadership roles are preoccupied with the decision to be liked or feared. But when you actually get into a leadership role, he said, it really does become much more about what youre trying to accomplish with respect to the organization.Theres work to be done - and spending time worrying what people will think of how youre doing it is generally ineffective.Venture ca pitalist Mark Suster alluded to something similar in a 2010 post on his blog. It takes a really self-confident and resilient individual to make all of these tough judgment calls on a daily basis, he wrote.But over time if you make the tough calls with no fudges, if youre fair and dont play favoritism, if you explain your rationale publicly and clearly, if you help soften the blow to the side that doesnt get their way people will respect you. And it is far better to be respected as a leader than loved.This article first appeared on Business Insider.

The Quintessential Handbook to Resume Critique Free

The Quintessential Handbook to Resume Critique Free The Fundamentals of Resume Critique Free Revealed After youve captured a recruiters attention, keep it by supplying the information that they will need to understand. Submitting your resume via email can give you valuable info. Furthermore, you can check the present salary surveys and extra info to help your search. You will start inputting the info on the computer. Expert writers are readily available to compose resumes applying to each market kind and career level. A character reference page should be written thoroughly. With 1-2-3 resumes you are going to be copying from a variety of our finest resumes of candidates in your area. Otherwise, employ a TopResume writer that will help you compose the next chapter of your career. What Resume Critique Free Is - and What it Is Not There are several totally free templates presented for download, also. The issue is that, while templates may provide you a simple format outline , it doesnt tell you exactly what to actually write in it or how to write it. You would like to abide by a simple format. It is imperative to choose a visual format want, together with a suitable framework for content. Bear in mind that each employer believes that their occupation has become the most important on the planet. If you want to create the job of writing a resume even easier, you will come across a manner. In under ten minutes you may have a help resume and cover letter, and be prepared to apply to the job that you dream about. You will land more help in almost no time, and get hired for your fantasy job. A History of Resume Critique Free Refuted Try to remember, free resume templates are made to grab your attention, not the interest of the folks who actually matter, like hiring managers and recruiters. The terrible news is there might be a whole bunch of worse attempts to control the public before it becomes better. The good thing is an online resume maker get s you a professionally formatted resume in almost no time, which means that you can take the very first step toward a better paycheck faster. It is, they will not be able to continue geschftlicher umgang as usual. The Basics of Resume Critique Free You Will be Able to Benefit From Beginning Right Away To guarantee a quality resume critique achieved by an expert, think about the source. It can be useful to acquire a professional resume critique to make certain youre focusing on the most suitable sides of your resume for improvement. You have to draw the readers eye to the vital parts that you truly wish to sell. Life After Resume Critique Free Employing a custom resume instead of a generic one is going to greatly increase your probability of an interview. There really isnt any substitute for taking advantage of skilled experience. As soon as you have narrowed the list of expected brokers down to the ones that supply the options which you just require, then you possibly can proceed to compare them additional by means of evaluations. If your resume doesnt have the right keyword phrases, it might never be observed by menschenwrdig eyes. Referrals and individual recommendations drive his business enterprise. Learning basic HTML and Website building skills might take a month or two but theres no rush provided that youre making positive progress. Whenever specific training or certification is necessary to engage in a career in a specific field, its important to list the relevant skills you have attained. All they must know is if youve got the experience, education and expertise to successful deal with the job. Your potential employers will not just see that which you have achieved in years past but what you could offer them later on. At a glance, a customer or an employer can see what you need to offer. The objective tells the employer exactly what kind of work you would like to do. Resume is the very first impression which every candidate want to present their possible employer. The point is to let you can boost your CV as much as you desire. Look and Lingo Ensure there are no spelling mistakes whatsoever. Many words have a negative effect on effectiveness. There are in reality words which are popular on resumes that could have a harmful effect on the potency of the resume. Critique groups provide many purposes. Quantification in accomplishments is essential. The submission deadlines are rapidly approaching and I want to completely be achieved with the application process in the upcoming few days. What Everybody Dislikes About Resume Critique Free and Why When youre asking for work, make certain that the job will make you happy. Recruiters dont have time or patience to work out the complexities of a functional resume. Fret not, heres everything you need to know to acquire the business executed.

NBCUniversal Ranked #11 In The Country On This Years Best Workplaces For Women List

NBCUniversal Ranked 11 In The Country On This Years Best Workplaces For Women List Below is an article originally written by PowerToFly Partner NBCUniversal. Go to NBCUniversals page on PowerToFly to see their open positions and learn more.It feels great to be ranked 11 in the country on this years Best Workplaces for Women list by Fortune and Great Place to Work Thats up from 31 just last year. Thanks to all of our employees who help make NBCU a great place to work, we couldnt have done it without you.Here were proud of a culture that celebrates diversity. Here we believe in our values. Here you can grow your career. NBCUHereYouCanRead more about the accolade here http//fortune.com/best-workplaces-for-women/comca... One of the biggest challenges in almost all industries today is achieving gender parity. Gender diversity provides huge benefits in the workplace. pWhile some industries have made significant advancements in gender diversity, some industries lag further behind... and the construction industry is well-known for being in the latter category. If someone says, construction workers, youll likely picture a group of men in yellow hard hats analyzing an architects plans or laying bricks on top of a scaffold. And men at work signs only help to reinforce this image.pThis stereotype is rooted in reality. When was the last time you actually spotted a woman on a construction site? Or hired a female plumber or carpenter? Your answer is most likely never. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statisticsreports that only 3.4% of the total of 8.3 1000000 construction employees are women.pBut the construction industry has a lot more to offer than steel-toed boots and hard hats, and it needs women to help advance the industry in this era of rapid change. Here are 5 reasons why women joining the workforce or looking to make a pivot should consider a career in construction.h21. Fuel neuheit/h2pNot only is diversity the socially and m orally right thing to do, but it is also actually an excellent business strategy. pResearch presented in the Harvard Business Reviewshows that diverse teams develop more innovative ideas. This is further supported by a study conducted by Gallupon the performance of gender-diverse teams versus single-gender teams, which found that the difference in backgrounds and perspectives led to better business performance and problem-solving. h22. Capitalize on Demand/h2pThe construction industry is currently experiencing a labor shortage. The industry itself is booming and projected to be one of the fastest-growing industries, with total spending projected to exceed $1.45 trillion in 2023/a. However, most construction companies are unable to meet the rising demand. pAccording to the Associated General Contractors of America/a, more than 80% of contractors are experiencing difficulties filling hourly craft positions that represent the bulk of the construction workforce.pAnd demand isnt limited to individual contributor roles. Given the industry boom, there are a number of open stable and high-paying roles (any project managers out there?) waiting for the right candidateh23. Leadership Opportunities/h2pAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics/a, women compose only 7.7% of the total 1 million managerial positions in construction.br/pBut given the highly collaborative nature of construction work, more women in leadership roles would help drive innovation and enhance productivity.Furthermore, as a woman in construction in a leadership position, youd have the unique opportunity to drive change for the industry and make it a more attractive option for other women.h24. High-Income Potential/h2pSalaries for many skilled positions in construction are on the rise, making a construction career a prime choice for women looking for a high-paying job,pThe 2018 Construction Craft Salary Surveyconducted by the National Center for Construction Education and Research revealed that salar ies for many skilled craft areas are increasing. Project managers and project supervisors topped the list at $92,523 and $88,355, respectively. The next set of highest-paying jobs include those of combo welders ($71,067), instrumentierung technicians ($70,080), pipe welders ($69,222), power line workers ($68,262) and industrial electricians ($67,269). Of the 32 categories of workers in the survey, 19 positions earned an average salary of $60,000 or higher.h25. Sense of accomplishment/h2p The construction industry can give employees a unique sense of achievement. Yes, the job is stressful and the work can be demanding, but nothing beats the feeling of being able to build something from the ground up. pHow many professionals in other industries can point at a school, a hospital, or a skyscraper and say I helped build that?pThe construction industry has a long way to go in combating gender bias and supporting women in the workforce, but given the current demand for workers, theres no b etter time to pick up a sledgehammer (figurative or literal) and smash the gender stereotypes plaguing the construction industry.

How to enjoy office parties as an introvert

How to enjoy office parties as an introvertHow to enjoy office parties as an introvertWhile Christmas is most peoples favorite holiday, many people dread the holidays. Some find it difficult to be around family while others feel lonely when theyre still on the market - and then there are those who find the Christmas season painful due to the hours of socializing.How people gain energy - introversion and extroversion - affects socialization and even careers. In the U.S. workforce, introverts can feel like they fade into the background, but studies show that introvertshave a subtle powerand may perform better than extroverts in the workplace. When it comes to office parties, can introverts pull through once again and find success?Whether you are an introvert who gets drained from too much menschlich interaction or you have social anxieties, office parties can be a looming inconvenience during your holiday season. Even if youre a little shy, you can feel intimidated by holding a conv ersation with your coworkers. Here are 6 ways for introverts to have a good time at an office anlass during the holidays.1. Find the Benefits of the PartyBefore the dread sets in or you overthink how a conversation could go wrong, brainstorm the positive things about the festivitt. Positive thinking can impact your experience andyour ability to cope with stress, so put it into practice. Find out all the details of the party early on so you can pinpoint the best parts, like the music or location.If you know the food or beverages will be free and fully stocked, you can be prepared to appreciate the night rather than tolerate it. Make reminders for yourself on your phone about the plus side to your office extravaganza.2. Grab a Buddy to Stick WithWalking into an office party alone can be uncomfortable, but bringing along a friend or planning to meet your favorite coworker beforehand can improve the night. You and your desk buddy can plan to carpool together. Youll feel more at ease whe n you have a friend to talk to in the crowded room.Introverts tend toprefer a few intimate friendsto a large group of people, so even one person to hang around at an office party makes a big difference.3. Try to Smile and Make Eye ContactWhen youve spoken to many people at the party and your energy levels start to tank, you can start to look distant and cold. Introverts may not pick up on their facial expression, but it can cause people to think they arent up for talking.Body language is an unconscious indicator for social interactions, whichhelps people feel connected. Try to smile and make eye contact to be friendly. When you smile at someone it encourages them to feel welcome and keep a conversation flowing.4. Take Breaks From the CrowdThe noise and an overwhelming number of people can start to get to you after a while. Instead of leaving the party immediately, you can take a timeout. Go to a quiet corner or walk outside for a break from the chaos.Breaks canrefresh your brain and restore your motivation. Even escaping to a different room in your building or the bathroom can be helpful. If you need to call someone to vent or sit down, this can help you make it through the rest of the night.5. Keep a Conversation up With QuestionsIf you have a hard timespeaking up at work, carrying on a conversation may not be your favorite thing. You may not be able to gather the mental energy to figure out a clever joke or tell an elaborate story after the first five conversations. But if you get other people talking, you wont have to.You can keep up a conversation by asking questions and listening to the answers. Find out about your coworkers life by letting curiosity flow and using open-ended questions. People enjoy talking about themselves, and you can even share about your own life if they turn the questions around.6. Give Yourself a Time LimitGive the office party a chance by setting a time limit. This allows you to make the most of your time and it gives you confidenc e to know you dont have to stay forever. Make plans with a friend or family member for right after your time limit so you have a non-negotiable appointment that friendly coworkers cant argue with. You can survive a party for an hour or two, and the promise of freedom will keep you going through any difficult parts.Make the Most of Your Holiday amtsstube CelebrationWhile an office party during the holidays can be challenging for shy people, you can have a fun time by trying these tips. When you know your strengths and weaknesses, you can better handle a night of socialization as an introvert.Have you found helpful ways to make it through an office party this holiday season? Comment below to share your advice for introverted workers. Share this article with other introverts in your life and subscribe formore information about navigating the workplace.This article was originally published on Punched Clocks.

Accountemps Study Finds Job Hopping Becoming More Accepted

Accountemps Study Finds Job Hopping Becoming More Accepted Accountemps Study Finds Job Hopping Becoming More Accepted The Accountemps report included highlights such as57 percent of employees between the ages of 18 and 34 said changing jobs every few years can actually help their career38 percent of employees between the ages of 35 and 54 said job-hopping can be a career booster22 percent of those age 55 or older agreed that it could help ones career.Broken down by sex, 47 percent of men accepted job-hopping as a career strategy, compared to 37 percent of women.Asked to identify the top five benefits to their careers of job-hopping, job hoppers in the survey listed the followingIt leads to higher compensationJob hoppers gain new skillsJob hoppers the corporate latter more rapidly than non-hoppersJob hoppers experience more corporate cultures andJob hopping quickly builds an impressive resume.Conventional wisdom about the perils of job hopping has begun to shift, but professionals s till need to look carefully before they leap, said Bill Driscoll, a district president with Accountemps. Changing jobs every three to four years is one thing more frequent moves could indicate the inability to dig into a role and put employers on guard. Professionals considering job moves should evaluate not only salary but also where they will have the greatest opportunity to build skills and advance their careers.

Kung Fu Control vs. Pacino Passion

Kung Fu Control vs. Pacino Passion Kung Fu Control vs. Pacino Passion OK. So control is generally, even if not always, a good thing. This means there are two challenges in controlling controlKnowing which kind of control to try to exert in any given situation.Knowing when to relinquish or otherwise do without it.The iconic image of a self-controlled kung fu master in serene control of not only any assailant, but also of his inner environment, including his feelings, concentration, focus, weapons and skills, is very appealing. But, in appeal and merit it is countered by the equally iconic images of passionate Pablo Picasso, fiery out-of-control whooping Al Pacino and lovestruck/star-crossed Romeo and Juliet- ah, those LatinsBut wait Out of what kind of control?Assuming that in some situations control is a good thing, it remains to decide which kind of control to shoot for. Heres a menu of forms of control it is useful to identify and important not to confuse with each otherWeatherma n effect control Being a meteorologist gives you a degree of what can be called effect control- control over the effects of things you are powerless to stop, e.g., a hurricane, tornado or blizzard, e.g., by evacuation, retreating to a storm shelter or by chopping extra logs for the fireplace.The heart of this kind of control is the power of prediction and having the resources to deal with the consequences when the prediction comes true. In an office environment, an example would be having duplicate copies of your project report that your absent-minded boss is notorious for misplacing and losing. This can also be described as a form of partial control.Engineer cause control This kind of control amounts to three things- 1. prevention 2. staging 3. execution, implementation and maintenance. Designing a bridge or a jet involves all three designing structures and function that will prevent problems, framing the processes and structures to get the job done, and concretely carrying them ou t and maintaining or upgrading them.This most closely approximates the ideal of total control- and the kind of control that makes micro-managing types drool. From this perspective, designing a boss who is incapable of misplacing a report, or failing that, designing a fail-safe system of filing making compensatory backup files unnecessary would perfectly exemplify cause control.If you think of an engineer as being like God, or vice versa, this kind of cause control can be further analyzed like thisPure Designer Control Deism is the philosophical idea that once God designed the universe, He/She set it loose, free from any further direct control and allowed to unwind like a watch designed by a Master Watchmaker or a jet created by Boeing engineers. Translated into terms of HR departments, this means controlling your job flow by having a system design that incorporates preparations for any contingency, including the sudden disappearance of the new recruit on Day-1.Intervener Designer Co ntrol Deism is in contrast to the idea of a much more interventionist Designer, who, in addition to or instead of designing the clockwork, will tinker with it from time to time, in order to bring about, through direct control, changes that seem suitable- usually in the form of fine-tuning or miracles. Engineering refits and accounting systems modifications fall into this category of cause control.Kung fu-master contingency control The idealized control exerted by a wispy-bearded kung fu master is different from both themeteorologists and engineers control paradigms. A kung fu master, unlike a meteorologist, cannot and need not predict what will happen nor, like the engineer, engineer it in advance. Instead, with respect to the outer world, he exercises purely contingency control- being prepared for whatever happens, despite neither predicting nor creating it. Its as though he is calmly and confidently making his way through a dark, menacing forest, totally ready for the unexpected. in gleichem abstand nebeneinander to this control is the Masters unwavering self-control that makes this kind of comprehensive contingency control possible.In a business environment, kung fu-master control amounts to being ready to roll with and parry the punches, even when they are, in detail, utterly unforeseen and unpredictable. It means being mentally, logistically, operationally and otherwise ready for whatever happens and being confident and calm in virtue of being that ready.Like weatherman control, this is reactive but like engineer cause-control it is proactive to the extent that built into the makeup and design of a kung fu master are capacities to deal with a very wide range of contingencies, including emergencies. The difference, however, is that the kung fu master, unlike the engineer and possibly under the influence of a Taoist or Buddhist doctrine of non-action, doesnt try to cause anything, including forcing others do things- except obey the laws of physics and colla pse when he pummels them, while nonetheless being ready for whatever they may throw at him.Caution about PassionWhat about passion? If construed as the opposite of self-control, when should it be held in check or reined in? One clue to an answer is whether it is seen as control that is relinquished, surrendered or waived, or, instead, lost.It can be argued that when control is voluntarily relinquished it is probably safe to do so. As examples of this kind of relinquished control, theres allowing others to tickle you, agreeing to skinny dip or choosing to resign as CEO in order to spend more time with the family or golfing.On the other hand, when what is experienced feels like a loss of control and a complete surrender to the moment, things can get very tricky and muddy. For example, surrendering to heat of sensual passion can feel like loss of control, feel very good and turn out quite well for all concerned. Yet, when you read, He lost control and you are probably braced and righ tly prepared to hear an unhappy story as the completion.This perspective may seem to be reinforced by the concept of the Passion of Christ, which somehow suggests a pawns passivity as a consequence or in the face of a loss of control over ones fate, seized by ones persecutors. However, a careful look at the etymology of passion suggests otherwise, and, at most, an emotional connection with what we (should) do, rather than an obstacle to it. In this connection, it has been suggested thatThe Latin word, passionem, which means to endure, was tagged onto the word pie (which means suffering) Note as in Michelangelos Pieta and later imbued with the sense of the Greek word pathos to create the meaning of passion, as the endurance of great suffering (as that of Jesus) and that the faulen meaning, which may have derived from some poetic wordplay on the sufferings of love was not used until the early 1600s, but has gradually become more commonly used than the original meaning.Another complica tion is that passion and self-control are not always mutually exclusive a passionate research scientist toiling to find a cure for the cancer that has afflicted his wife will nonetheless be utterly disciplined and self-controlled in his lab work. Such an easily comprehended scenario merely reflects the fact that we can be intensely passionate about our goals, yet in complete self-control and control of the elements constituting or related to the means.Even the kung fu master is likely to passionately defend his values while calmly defending himself from physical attack or stoically tolerating it.As for Al Pacino, the degree of self-control and discipline that underlies his passionate portrayals further illustrates not only how passionate ends can require self-controlled means, but also quite the oppositeHow passionate means, e.g., fiery dramatic performances, help achieve very disciplined, focused and cool-headed or equally passionately held goals, e.g., to become a master of ones c raft and of huge troves of wealth and fame.