5 Ways To Be A Better Leader

I’ll be the first to admit, I have a long way to go as a leader. My years in management have been brief so far. However, the unique circumstances I find myself in at Candeo Creative have challenged me to grow exponentially in a short amount of time. Needless to say, I have made mistakes. Thankfully, I’ve learned from them.  

1. Admit when you’ve made a mistake.
   Pobody’s nerfect. As a leader, when you admit you’ve made a mistake, it demonstrates to your team that sometimes mistakes are okay. Afterall, we learn from them. Knowing to admit when you’re wrong will help you earn the respect and trust of your colleagues.
   

   Via Buzzfeed.com

   
   

2. Ask for help.
   Because pobody’s nerfect, asking for help is perfectly acceptable. When you’re struggling under the weight of a neverending to-do list, asking for help, learning to delegate and negotiating priorities does not make you weak or incapable. If anything, you’re showing your team that you trust them to help. Also, you are acting as a communication role model. If you’re drowning, don’t just let yourself sink. Shout out for someone to throw you a lifesaver!
   

   Via forum.thesims.com

   
   

3. Know your strengths and weaknesses.
   How well do you know yourself? A popular personality test is the Myers Briggs test, which examines four dichotomies of who you are. Once you understand who you inherently are, you can learn about your strengths and weaknesses. As an INTJ personality type, my strengths include being strategic, independent and hard working. However, true power comes from understanding my weaknesses, such as being arrogant, judgemental and overly analytical. Every day I make an effort to check my ego and give other people’s opinions a fair chance before making a decision.
   

   Via forums.elderscrollsonline.com

   
   

4. Make time to check in.
   You can’t lead if you’re blind to a situation. To be a better leader, make a point to ask how your team members are doing, whether this is in passing or in a formal one-on-one meeting. Let your colleagues know they are heard and their concerns and ideas matter. However, it’s not enough to just listen. Be sure to set actionable goals as well, both for yourself and your team.
   

   Via tumblr.com

   
   

5. Give your full attention.
   Along with making time for each person on your team, give him/her your full attention. If a team member swings by your desk to ask a question, look away from your computer screen and stop typing. If you’re in a meeting, put down your phone and make eye contact. Adapting these simple communication habits will help show your team you’re a dedicated leader.
   

   Via glee.wikia.com

   
   In retrospect, these tips will not only help you be a better leader, but a better coworker, friend and partner. What are your tips for becoming a better leader?
   

FREE Press Release Template

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Contact: Name

Phone: (123) 456-7890

Email: name@email.com                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MAKE THE HEADLINE ATTENTION GRABBING AND INFORMATIVE

The Sub Headline Should Provide More Information Without Repeating The Same Thing

 

CITY, State (Ap Style), Month Day, Year- This first paragraph is called the lead. Be sure to include the 5 W’s of journalism (who, what, where, when and why).

 

The second paragraph should include more information that supports the lead. Think inverted pyramid style, meaning the most important information goes at the top and the least essential information comes later.

 

“Feature a quote that is informational and the media will want to use,” communication director Sheng Riechers said.

 

The last paragraph is called the boilerplate where you include more information about the organization mentioned above.

 

### → signifies end of content

 

Include the main contact’s information in case media personnel need more information.

How I Manage Stress As A PR And Marketing Professional

Being a PR professional is more stressful than being a police officer or CEO of a company according to Career Cast’s list of the 10 most stressful jobs of 2013.

My husband, well on his way to becoming a police officer, has a difficult time understanding how my career of choice could be more stressful than his. Even as a community service officer, he’s subject to rabid dogs and disgruntled ticket receivers, but nonetheless, my job in the safety of my office is more stressful than his.

When you think about it, the stresses of being a PR professional are clear; working under tight deadlines in the public eye to reverse whatever damage has been done can be somewhat stressful.

However, it’s not just PR that doesn’t get a break. Creative and communication jobs are pretty stressful too. No wonder marketers rank second (just under scientists) as the top coffee drinkers by profession.

Going back to my husband, he’d be the first one to tell you that I am incapable of relaxing. I see weekends as an opportunity to catch up on my work. However, I do find ways to keep my stress under control.

1. Exercise

Contrary to popular belief, I do work out. Every morning I get up at 5 a.m. and spend about an hour on the treadmill. There are tons of benefits to working out in the morning. It boosts your metabolism, energizes you for the day and increases mental acuity.

2. Music

I am a music fanatic. I listen to music when I’m getting ready in the morning, during my work commute and of course at my desk! I am a Spotify junkie. What I love about Spotify is the awesome workday playlists to help get you through those sometimes unbearable eight hours.

3. Eat Healthy

It’s no surprise that a happy body equals a happy mind. Feed your body what it craves. No, I’m not talking about cheese puffs and candy. I’m talking about a balanced diet of protein and carbs. I love to cook, and when I cook for myself, I can control what goes in my body. I’ve made it a habit to cook healthy, balanced dinners that double as lunch for the next day! Since I started “eating clean,” I have more energy and am generally happier. Who would’ve thunk!

4. Sleep

Another no-brainer. If you’re constantly in “go-mode,” your body and brain never get a chance to rest. People NEED sleep. This is the time when your body and brain repair themselves to face another day, so make sure you’re getting at least 7 hours of sleep every night. And instead of waking up at 5 a.m. on the weekend, allow yourself to sleep in a little to catch up on that sleep deficit you’ve accumulated during the hectic workweek.

5. Attitude and Gratitude

Instead of dreading your daunting to-do list, look at tasks as opportunities to grow and learn something new. Also never lose sight of what’s important. Every day write down three things that you’re grateful for. They don’t have to be mind-boggling epiphanies. I remember one day I wrote in my journal that I was thankful for my Spinbrush. Seriously! I love the way it cleans my teeth versus regular toothbrushes.

6. Have Fun

The one thing that I love most about working at Candeo Creative is the fun that we all have together. Even during the most stressful weeks, we all find time to laugh and poke fun at each other. After all laughter is nature’s finest cure-all. 🙂

7. Manage Your Time

I would be lost without my Google calendar. I put everything in there, from work meetings and project deadlines to my hubby’s schedule and  family birthday parties. By putting an engagement down in writing, this guarantees that I won’t forget it and helps me stay one step ahead of the game.

8. Do Things You Enjoy

Before my career and getting married, I used to have time for hobbies like baking, sewing and learning how to play the guitar. Now I rarely have time for those things, but I do find time to spend with my husband. It doesn’t matter if we’re on a fancy dinner date or at home in our PJs watching TV. Surrounding yourself with loved ones is always a mood booster.

How do you manage your stress?

Top 3 New Year’s Resolutions and FREE Mobile Apps to Help You Get Started

It’s that time of the year again. When we make loose promises that we kind of intend to keep, but realistically know that we won’t follow through with completely.

Nay! No more broken promises! 2014 will be your year of successful New Year’s resolutions. Why? Because they have an app for that!

Resolution: Lose Weight

App: MyFitnessPal

Probably one of the most common New Year’s resolutions made and broken is to lose weight. Holiday feasts leave us feeling bloated and motivated to lose that winter fat, but by February the momentum fades. The thing about weight loss is that you can’t count on diet or exercise alone. It takes a combination of the two to see real results.

This is where the MyFitnessPal app comes in. Not only can you log your diet, which includes calories and nutrition, but you can input your exercises and calories burned. MyFitnessPal does an excellent job of helping you set realistic goals and track your progress.

Added features include the helpful community forums available online as well as fitness blog. Did I mention you don’t have to go it alone? MyFitnessPal allows you to invite friends to lose weight with you, ensuring that you’ll always stay motivated.

Resolution: Get Out of Debt

App: Mint

More and more the American dream is shifting from homeownership to getting out of debt. With the average student loan debt somewhere in the tens of thousands, it’s no wonder millennials are living at home while they pay off their education.

Not only does the Mint app allow you to set budgets and see where your money is going, but you can also set financial goals. Because Mint works with hundreds of financial institutions, you can easily link your loan provider to your Mint account and start chipping away at that debt.

Using Mint’s Goals feature, you can set the amount you’d like to contribute each month and Mint will give you a projected goal completion date. This feature also suggests steps that you can take to pay off your debt sooner, such as paying down your debt with savings or investments.

Keep with your budgets and loan payments and pretty soon you’ll be debt free!

Resolution: Spend More Time with Family

App: MyLifeOrganzied

Life is short. Spend it with the ones you love. Unfortunately, this isn’t always possible. If you’re a 9 to 5er, you’ll most likely spend more time with your coworkers than your family. Between work and other adult responsibilities, it can be difficult to find time for the kids or your spouse, but nothing is impossible with a little organization!

If you’re a list person like me, you’ll fall in love with MyLifeOrganized. With its outline feature, you can organize your tasks into projects and break down large tasks into reasonably sized actions. No longer are you looking at a daunting list of to-dos, but you get a view of a few doable actions at one time. As you complete each to-do item, your next actions will automatically update one by one until your project is conquered.

Similar to the other two apps, MyLifeOrganized can be synced across all of your devices for seamless project management. So go ahead, kick your to-dos in the caboose and use that extra time with the people who matter most.

Happy New Year!

Join Our Crazy, Sexy, Cool Team

Okay, so we’re not female hip-hop sensation TLC.

We’re a full-scale integrated marketing agency in Oshkosh, WI that lives and breathes brilliant marketing.

Our culture is one that allows creativity to grow wild like Japanese Kudzu. We believe that no idea is a bad idea because the spark of creativity is the seed in which all great ideas grow. Lastly, we believe in encouraging and nurturing the professional development of our team.

We’re dedicated to serving our employees through competitive compensation, benefit packages and office perks. Does Massage Mondays sound good to you? Yeah, we thought so too.

Our team is made up of overly zealous individuals who race each other through the extra mile. Mediocrity doesn’t exist here.

Does this sound like your kind of workplace? Check out our open positions and contact our leadership team if you can see yourself thriving with us.