• November is National Caregivers' Month
• Here and Now: Reality Therapy
• Use Caution When Collecting from Coworkers
• Preserver to Attain Goals
• Step Into the Boss's Shoes
• Prepare to Weather the Flu Season
• Win Over the Most Difficult Customers
• Stay Productive amid a Rocky Workplace Romance

November is National Caregivers' Month:
National Family Caregivers’ Monthh is an annual, national observance ha was created by presidential proclamation in November 2000. I recognizes he unselfish and loving devotion of caregivers who willingly give their time, energy, and support o help loved ones with disabilities or chronic illnesses o live within heir communities. This observance seeks to inform people about available caregiving resources and information o help hem cope with the stress caused by the physical and emotional demands of caring for a loved one. More than 50 million people provide care for a chronically ill, disabled, or aged family member or friend during any given year. The three steps caregivers should take o balance heir lives and cope with stress include: believe in yourself, protect your health, and reach out for help. Ask your EAP helpful resources.

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Here and Now: Reality Therapy:
If you have avoided professional counseling because you dread talking about your past , you may benefit from working with a “reality therapist ”. Reality therapists avoid the past . They focus on he here and now— what you “can do” and “ think” to achieve personal goals and desired changes. Most therapists blend methods in he counseling practices, but some lean heavily on a specific approach. A reality therapist will focus on where you are going, no on where you have come from. Learn more from he EAP.

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Use Caution When Collecting from Coworkers:
As the holiday season approaches, be thoughtful about whether you should solicit coworkers to purchase items to support your favorite charity. Few people like to say “no” to a well-deserving organization, but your favorite might no be heirs. You risk alienating coworkers by asking them to participate. Good advice: Be on the lookout for signs of coworker “donor fatigue” so unspoken resentment s are avoided. Get the “okay” from your supervisor or human resources rep on how—and whether— to fund-raise a work.

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Preserver to Attain Goals:
Achieving long-term goals tests your vigor and strength of spirit . You need to maintain focus each day, week, and month to stay the course, even as distractions swirl around you. Goal achievers have a system that reinforces their will to succeed. Best “systems” include: 1) Enlisting a friend or coach to hold you accountable for reaching incremental, easy- to-measure goals; 2) Journaling to track, problem-solve, and record progress; 3) Reminding yourself why the goal matters by devising a powerful sentence that summarizes its significance; 4) Deriving strength from he underlying value and meaning of the goal in order to gain the energy to persevere when working toward the goal gets tough.

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Step Into the Boss's Shoes:
Your supervisor doesn’t give much feedback on your performance, so you assume you’re doing a good  job. But your boss may see things differently. When it  comes to their employees, managers’ top pet peeves include workers who waste time in personal conversations, fail to share  information, and refuse to take initiative. Some supervisors will  quietly tolerate such behavior rather than scold you. Meanwhile, your reputation will sink. Impress higher-ups by taking steps to solidify your image. First , limit your chatter. Exchanging pleasantries  with colleagues is fine, but don’ dawdle in he hallway telling  long stories tha have nothing to do with work. As a test , imagine that your supervisor snuck up behind you. Would you come  across as a task-oriented dynamo or an unmotivated procrastinator?  Second, make your coworkers and boss look good. Anticipate their concerns and address them. Share insight and information that help them solve problems. Genuinely praise heir contributions to team success. Finally, tackle projects head-on. Don’t  wait for people to ell you what o do if you can make a positive impact on your own. If you have an idea to advance the organization’s  goals, conduct research on your own time and stage experiments. When bosses see ha you’re a self-starter who embraces  challenges, they will give you better assignments and view you as a valuable asset .

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Prepare to Weather the Flu Season:
With the arrival of flu season, it’s time for a shot of prevention. With more than 100 million doses of vaccine available, government officials do not expect shortages.
Most people should get a flu shot , especially those in high-risk groups such as children from 6 o 59 months of age, pregnant women, adults 50 and older, health-care workers, and people with certain chronic medical ailments. Flu season usually kicks off in December, so now is the best time for a shot . Waiting another month can prove costly because it takes two weeks for the vaccine to provide maximum protection. If you have concern about needles, ask about FluMist and whether it is right for you. In addition to getting a shot , wash your hands frequently. Flu viruses can survive on surfaces such as doorknobs for two to eight hours.

Source: www.CDC.gov

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Win Over the Most Difficult Customers:
Demanding customers can test your patience. By taking their difficult behavior or irritability in stride, you can address their concerns without letting animosity creep into your voice. As soon as they become difficult , try thinking to yourself, “I look forward to handling this.” Welcome the chance to listen, pinpoint their complaints, and propose solutions that delight them. Take notes to prove that you take them seriously. Number each of their points, and review your list with them. Before you explain what you’ll do, ask if they have any ideas on a resolution. They may already know exactly what they’d like from you, which saves you from having to guess. Finally, make commitment statements in a confident tone, and give specifics to indicate that you intend to be held accountable for follow-through. Example: “I  will refund your purchase and deliver the correct item by 4:00 p.m. Friday.”

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Stay Productive amid a Rocky Workplace Romance:
You may feel more productive after beginning a workplace romance, but if relationship problems erupt , work can suffer. Mounting tensions—or an outright breakup—can interfere
with your ability to concentrate. To overcome such disturbances, agree to some rules. Put your job first by focusing on work duties while at work, not each t her. Use designated intervals such as your commute or lunch time to in tract . Difficulties in workplace romances can prompt everything from complaints of decreased morale and lost productivity to stalking or sexual harassment . Think before you leap into lovers’ lane. Use the EAP to work through your difficulties, and avoid sharing nitty-gritty details with others. Politely say that you prefer  to discuss only work-related matters at work.

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