Let's face it, business involves numbers and calculations. Major corporations and companies use quantitative studies in various stages in their day-to-day operations, to make sure they’re bringing home the bacon.
This use of quantitative data is crucial for CEOs and investors to conceptualise a project, profit margins, sales data, marketing conversion rates, and profits per sale. Like how peanut butter and jam make for a great sandwich, one must have good mathematical skills and quantitative data to make decisions that result in profits, with the least amount of risk.
Some of the types of mathematical data involve percentages, averages, statistical data, and median outcomes. These data can, and have been, used in day-to-day business operations.
Take ‘average per receipt’ for example. This data informs the company how much an average shopper would potentially spend in a single receipt. We’ll be shedding some light on these percentages, calculations, and how you could utilise them in your business field.
The Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English defines percentage as ‘an amount expressed as if it is part of a total, which is 100’. Percentage basically means ‘out of 100’. To calculate the percentage of a quantity, divide the amount by the total number, then multiply by 100. For example, 100 ÷ 250 x 100 = 40%.
Now, if an item was sold for $74.50, and $25 out of that is profit, the calculation is 25 ÷ 74.50 x 100 = 33.55% profit.
If a business must charge a 10% service charge on a meal of $125, here's the calculation below for the total bill:
Following the calculation shown above, the total bill amount that would be charged to the customer is $137.50.
Percentage changes are used for the depreciation or appreciation in the value of an asset. You usually hear uncles complaining about how their property bought from 2000 has dropped in value, due to the economy. You can calculate that drop in percentage, and we’ll show you how below.
Each cycle's depreciation quantity is calculated using this formula:
Annual depreciation rate/ number of cycles per year
For example, in a 15-cycle year, if the asset's expected life is 80 months, the annual depreciation rate for the asset is: 15/80 = 18.75%, and the depreciation rate per cycle is 18.75% / 12 = 1.5625%.
Quick tip: You can learn more about depreciation changes here.
Another type of percentage change is in stock trading. This uses basic mathematics to find the percentage change in a stock price over a set period of time. The percentage change can start from the year-to-date, from whence the trader started trading, or quick changes in day-to-day trading.
The formula for percentage change in stock value is:
(New Price - Old Price) / Old Price x 100
A positive percentage indicates an increase in stock value, whilst stocks dropping in value is denoted by a negative percentage.
Say MediaCorp closed at $575.25, and by 3pm the next trading day, was up at $636.47, an increase of $61.22. At 3pm, any investor trading on the floor will notice an increase of 10.64% in MediaCorp's shares.
Sales percentages are essential data for making important financial decisions by the company. A lot of this data is used to track and reflect the company’s financial records, and knowing how to utilise sales percentages is important to run a business. Below are a few examples of sales percentages and how to calculate them, formulas included!
To calculate gross profit margin, use the following formula:
Following the figures in the formula above, the 80.6% refers to the profit obtained by the company after selling their goods. With this, you can now track how much profit your company makes, as well as set target profit goals for the future years.
When you take a loan from the bank or a licensed moneylender, you have to pay the cost of obtaining the loan: Interest! Knowing how much interest is being charged on loans, fixed deposits, and investments allows you to make better financial decisions and avoid any debt trap.
Simple interest is calculated by taking the daily interest rate and multiplying the by the principal sum, then by the days in between payments. So, if you invested $15,000 in a fixed deposit that accrues 3% per year...how much money would you have accumulated after 15 years?
$15,000 x 0.03 x 15 = $6,750. You make $6,750 in interest for the 15 years you have kept your money in a fixed deposit scheme.
Compound interest is the interest you earn on interest. If you’ve invested $10,000 and earned 5% interest per annum, you'll get $10,500 at the end of the first year and then it compounds, so at the end of the second year, you get $11,025.
Mortgages and credit cards usually run on the compound interest system. It’s a bit ‘confusing’, as the principal sum changes each year due to the accrual. Most corporations hire or use software to perform these complex calculations. For example, be sure to pay your credit card debt on time, otherwise your interest is going to snowball!
We get that all these numbers and formulas are making you see question marks. Fret not, Excel makes calculating the data you need impressively easy! Firstly, open up Excel and type (=) in a cell. This is the way you initiate Excel to do a calculation for you. Key in the equation you want to calculate. For example, 75 x 100 / 25. Press ‘Enter’. Excel will automatically calculate and display the answer in the cell. Easy!
Quick tip: Click here to learn all the basic arithmetic functions of Excel and how to use them!
Making use of Excel for your business administration needs is a great hack to avoid paying an accountant, or buying premium business software. However, know that most businesses require payroll accounts, billing, database and much more. So, it would help to use a combination of Excel and a few other software to make your business run as smooth as butter!
Our working world has always had patriarchal norms, and you can still find traces of it to this day. The term 'patriarchy', defined as greater male social power and status than female social power and status, rose with the development of new roles in more complex societies.
Not only is such a system associated with gender bias, but it has also been shown to undermine women's performance and organisational citizenship behaviour. It’s unfortunate that patriarchy persists in forms such as unequal pay, failure to advance, and gender disparities, particularly when it comes to having female leaders in male-dominated industries. With so much unfairness and negative impact on women's wellbeing and mental health, patriarchy must be eliminated, period!
Many women continue to struggle to compete on equal footing with men in the workplace. Nonetheless, we can now see a rising number of women in C-suite positions, or soaring as founders/co-founders and entrepreneurs, putting them at the forefront of leadership roles.
According to a Deloitte study of over 10,000 companies in the Asia Pacific, the Americas, and EMEA, women hold only 19.7% of board seats globally. This was a 2.8% increase over the previous year. Those in South East Asia (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines) did better, with an average of 17.1% of women on board seats, compared to 14.3% in 2018.
Aside from the awareness of increasing women's participation in economic activity, this has been made possible by a society that has improved and created more opportunities for women to work and live comfortably.
Now, CEOWORLD Magazine has released a report on the best countries in the world for women. Amazingly, the Netherlands was ranked first, followed by Norway and Sweden. Although the top 20 countries are mostly dominated by European countries, Singapore made it to the top 20 in 19th place!
For the other South East Asian countries, the rankings are a sign that more progress can be made to make the countries more liveable, fairer, and safer for women. Despite the challenges, South East Asian women are making significant progress in the business.
As such, we've decided to highlight six female entrepreneurs who have made a name for themselves and serve as a continual reminder to women of all ages that they, too, can follow their passions, excel at what they do, and overcome enormous personal and professional challenges.
As a self-taught entrepreneur and designer, Christy Ng’s story is a true definition of rags-to-riches. She began her inspiring journey to build ChristyNg.com, which is now one of Malaysia’s most sought-after shoe brands, by selling at night markets and from her parents' living room.
She told the New Straits Times that her journey is about grit, determination, and the readiness to embrace failure. Growing up in a poor family, Christy was forced to work as a waitress on weekends, which resulted in a massive callus growth on her feet due to uncomfortable shoes and cheap polyurethane lining.
Her search for a well-made, comfortable pair of shoes ended in disappointment because all good comfortable shoes available at the time were mostly made of leather and were prohibitively expensive for her 17-year-old self.
It was at that point that she decided to make it her life's work and mission to design shoes that are not only beautiful but also comfortable and affordable for every woman to wear. Although she was frequently mocked by friends, industry players, and family members when she first started Christy Ng Shoes in 2012, she persevered.
She couldn't blame them for thinking she was insane to want to start a shoe business with no prior work experience, no industry knowledge, and only RM10,000 life savings!
In an interview with Maggy Wang of the Malaysian podcast 'Head Over Heels', she discussed her struggles as a woman in a society that tends to underestimate female society. As such she wants more women to follow their dreams and create something they enjoy. She went on to say that pursuing your dreams is just as important as having and caring for a family.
It was the scorn and underestimation that drove her forward, motivating her to work harder and harder so she could prove to them that she was capable of achieving what she wants.
It was that ridicule and underestimation that drive her forward, making her work harder and harder so she can turn around actually show them that she could achieve what she want. She is a firm believer in and practitioner of her own words "Always give it your best. Every single day of your life, your heart, and soul."
Her dream of creating beautiful, high-quality shoes and bags that all women would love and enjoy has come true. Started as a small business in a living room making women's footwear, they have expanded from their first store in 1Utama in 2016 to 7 stores across Malaysia and an e-Commerce platform serving a global audience.
In that interview with Head Over Heels, she also mentioned a powerful message that any woman who wants to pursue her ambition should heed: "You are your biggest cheerleaders, don't care what other people have to say."
(Other sources: Christy Ng Founder Story, About Christy Ng)
Love, Bonito is South Asia's omnichannel fashion brand, co-founded by Rachel Lim, and it recently marked its 11th year in business. What is now one of Singapore's first fashion brands had a bumpy and difficult journey since its humble beginning as BonitoChico in 2005.
It all started when Rachel Lim decided to drop out of college to pursue her dream of reinventing the retail industry. After facing a five-figure fee for leaving college, the then-21-year-old had no one to turn to but her mother.
She explained to CNBC Make It that she was bonded by the government and had to pay a fee when she quit, and "I obviously didn't have the money, so I had no choice but to go to my mom and ask for a loan."
However, this is not a case of a wealthy child receiving funds from a wealthy parent, as Lim's mother was already working two jobs to support the family after her father went bankrupt during the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997.
She also added, “That’s one of the reasons why I knew I could not fail. I could not let her down.” It was the pressure she needed to ensure the success of her business as she knew that was all the money she had and needed to repay her mother.
She certainly didn't give up and kept going, as BonitoChico, which began as a blog shop selling pre-loved items by Rachel and her two friends, has grown into a fashion empire with its line of products.
The company rebranded to its current name, Love, Bonito, in 2010, and has since expanded into 10 markets across South East Asia, East Asia, Australia, and the United States, as well as shipping to 20 locations worldwide. The fashion house has also expanded its products to encompass more than just fashionable, affordable apparel under Lim's leadership.
She has accomplished a great deal in her career. Rachel has spoken and headlined at TEDx, the Asia Retail Leaders Conference, the Great Women of Our Time Forum, the Future is Female conference, and the Her World Young Women Achiever Forum to name a few. She was also named by Forbes as Asia's 30under30 in 2016 and by TatlerAsia as Asia's Most Influential in 2021.
When Prestige asked what advice she would give to someone looking to start-up in the fashion industry. She replied,
"Know what you stand for and stay true to it. We are in a very competitive market which is very, very saturated. So, you need to have a good, complete brand with its own niche; you need to be very clear about what makes you unique.”
(Other sources: GenT, asiaone, Rachel Lim Linkedin)
Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, popularly known as Madam Thao, is Vietnam’s first self-made woman billionaire and ranks 1,111th in the world (as of 2021). Forbes estimated her assets at around US$2.5 billion as of 23 Dec 2021! She unquestionably accomplished her fortune through her own efforts.
Madam Thao made her first million dollars before she was 21 or even graduated, when she began her business as a sideline importing fax machines and latex rubber into the then-Soviet Union. At the time, she was only a student at D Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology in Moscow, where she was studying economic management.
This is consistent with her having enormous goals since she was young. She soon established herself as a role model for younger people after becoming a dollar millionaire at the age of 21 through international trade and hard work. To her, doing business, like doing anything else in life, requires being courageous in the face of adversity.
Although she founded VietJet in 2007, she had spent the previous ten years researching aviation and meeting the CEOs of various LCCs such as Jetstar, Air Asia, and Southwest Airlines. This demonstrates the importance of research to her, as well as to starting and succeeding in what you want to achieve.
She went public with her low-cost carrier, VietJet Air, in February 2017, and it has been doing well since then. The airline was discovered to be one of the few carriers to emerge from 2020 in relatively good shape, despite COVID-19 wreaking havoc on aviation markets worldwide.
Madam Thao also has holdings in HD Bank and real estate, including three beach resorts. The influential female figure in investment and international trade was once famous for claiming that she had no idea how much money she had.
Her motto, however, has always been the same: to devote herself wholeheartedly to business and to earn in order to realise dreams and help more people, particularly the vulnerable. It doesn’t matter how much she has; she understands the critical role she can play in social responsibility. Because of that, Tatler magazine named her one of Asia's most influential philanthropists.
At the time, she said something very important for any entrepreneurs or those about to start a business out there, "Corporate social responsibility is a part of an honest business philosophy, which lies deep down in an honest heart and soul."
(Other sources: CNBC, Vietnam Investment Review, Thaiger, The Guardian)
Despite being born and raised in the United Kingdom, Sarah Fung is proud of her Hong Kong roots. She didn't have it easy, either, because she was there as the child of first-generation immigrants. Her mother was an opera singer, and her father was a musician who worked together in an amateur band.
At the same time, her mother worked as a hairdresser and later opened her own beauty salon. While her father was a chef who owned several businesses. Thus, she has always been surrounded by creativity and entrepreneurship since a young age.
What makes it even more difficult is that she lost her mother, who had dedicated her life to raising her, in a car accident when she was 16 years old. While many teenagers would be lost in such tragic events, she remained committed and enrolled in Central Saint Martins while working various side jobs to make ends meet, gaining valuable insights into customer service and marketing.
She graduated in jewellery design and immediately began her own business. A few years later, she co-founded a lingerie and swimwear label with her best friend and ended up doing really well. Long story short, after years had passed and both businesses had ended, she was offered a job by Lane Crawford in its Hong Kong head office.
She packed her belongings without hesitation in order to be closer to her family roots, where she stated, "it was great to reconnect with family that I hadn't seen in 15 years and get some hardened experience working in retail."
Toward the end of her time at Lane Crawford, she became aware of the high volume of waste generated by the fashion industry. After completing some research and finding there wasn’t a consignment business in Hong Kong that felt luxurious and inspiring, she was able to start the Hula business with HK$1.4 million of her own savings and HK$2 million from her husband.
Hula was founded in 2016 in a 4,000-square-foot showroom in Wong Chuk Hang to store and display pre-owned luxury items. When she first started HULA, she had a lot of friends who had a lot of stuff, and they trusted me with their valuables. Even so, it was difficult at first because Hong Kong was not yet ready for preowned.
Fast forward to today, and the use of preowned has grown in popularity, with Prestige reporting that Hula has taken over 27,000 items since its inception, converting a large number of shoppers to the circular fashion economy and allowing the secondary market to flourish. Her life slogan is "glass half full, not half empty," and she believes that being positive helps her succeed as an entrepreneur.
On Femalentrepreneurs Worldwide (FEW), Sarah Fung gave four sound pieces of business advice during her section:
(Other sources: Tatler, Prestige, Sassy Hong Kong)
Recognised as one of the pioneers of the Thai startup ecosystem, Oranuch Lerdsuwankij (also known as Mimee) is a tech entrepreneur who wants to create a media, knowledge management, and reporting platform for local companies to assist them to launch and expand their businesses.
She told Empirics Asia that her father was her role model because she grew up in a middle-class family with an entrepreneur for a father. When the ASEAN financial crisis severely impacted her family in 1997, her father's company went bankrupt. Despite this, her father did everything he could to keep the family safe during that trying situation.
As she recalls her teenage years, when she decided to study telecommunication engineering at King Mongkut Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, entering the tech world was not easy. Her family even questioned her choice of subject, which was thought to be more suitable for men. Oranuch on the other hand believes that everyone should pursue their true passions.
Prior to launching her own company, she worked for Truemove Atos Origin and Total Access Communication for over 12 years in product and marketing (dtac). Her watershed moment came when she began reading startup stories and discovered that Thai start-ups were not well-known in South East Asia.
She created a new section on Thumbsup to publish and promote start-ups. Her passion for startups inspired her to found Techsauce in 2012 with the intention of assisting startups and corporates. In 2014, she separated the startup content from Thumbsup and founded Techsauce Media.
Techsauce Media set out to be a content generator that created high-quality, informative content for startups and corporations. According to Oranuch, good content does not have to be in a media format; it can be presented in an event format, such as the Techsauce Global Summit, where content is created to get individuals to learn more about start-ups and corporate innovations at events, conferences, and workshops.
The Techsauce Global Summit has evolved into an instructive and inspiring platform for numerous startups not only in Thailand but throughout South East Asia.
On another note, despite the fact that the Thai startup ecosystem is quickly expanding, it is still largely controlled by men. According to Oranuch, female-led entrepreneurs make up only 10% of the country's 300-400 active startups.
She told Thai PBS World that when people ask why we need more female founders, she points to a report by a global research firm, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), which claims that startups started or co-founded by women may generate higher revenue and market growth.
In addition, she stated, "I believe that diversity is the key success factor in driving companies to grow together. With diversity, we can increase creativity, productivity, and, in the end, drive innovation in your organisation."
Her message to all women worldwide is “Every woman is beautiful in her own way. You shouldn’t sacrifice your passion, your dream, or your personality, and most importantly, be yourself and believe in yourself.”
(Other sources: Top 10 of Asia, ThailandStartup.news, The Nation Thailand)
Concerns for Indonesia's fisheries sectors prompted Utari Octavianty and her two classmates to devise a solution that will benefit both the village and the country's fisheries industry.
This is a true example of giving back to the community since Utari lives and grew up in a coastal area in a village populated primarily by small fishermen in Balikpapan, Kalimantan Timur (East Borneo). Her uncle is a fisherman, and her parents sell fishing equipment to fishermen.
An article on LinkedIn titled Shared Prosperity: Building a Better Future Together even drew inspiration from Utari when promoting economic growth, particularly in rural areas and non-coastal hubs.
It all started when she enrolled at Telkom University, where she majored in ICT Business Management. She always gave her all in school and at work, earning her the title of Telkom University's Best Graduate.
During her final year, Utari co-founded Aruna with her classmates Farid Naufal Aslam and Indraka Fadhlillah. Their main product is the app Nelayan Aruna, which allows fishermen to sell their catch to a larger market. They have used this product since its inception and continue to develop applications that are tailored to the needs of fishermen.
Even though she was preoccupied with Aruna, she made time to work on herself. She received an Australia Award-funded short study programme at Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia.
In 2019, Utari was a keynote speaker at the Global Women Conference 2019 in Hangzhou, China, alongside Melinda Gates, Jack Ma, and other prominent figures. She later completed the Executive Leadership Education programme at Oxford University's Said Business School. She was also named to the Forbes 30 under 30 Asia Class of 2020, along with Aruna's founders Farid and Indraka.
During an interview with AsiaTechDaily, she was asked about the biggest challenges and obstacles she had encountered during the fund-raising process, as well as what she would do differently if she could start over.
Utari responded, "On average, all startups require enough 'breath'/'gasoline' when looking for investors." Because dealing with investors takes time, it takes creativity and good teamwork to manage the business and cash flow. If I could start over, we'd want to be more organised in all aspects of documentation and administration from the start."
When asked about her future milestones and goals, she asserted that they’ve already grown 86x from August 2019 to August 2020, and they hope to continue growing. In Aruna, they have a mission to Make the Sea a Better Livelihood for All, by
In regards to Utari's message for anyone achieving their career goals, it was shared on Live More Society, which stated, "Don't be afraid of the waves, find your momentum and the best version of yourself. That's what pirates do to sail."
(Other sources: TechCrunch, Utari Octavianty LinkedIn)
These women are living proof that nothing is impossible in this world. It's your responsibility to find your calling and do your best to shine! Yes, it's going to be difficult at first, but with a little "grit" and perseverance, you'll get through it. If you want to advance in your career, know that you will need leadership skills.
Don't be afraid to try and pursue your dreams in whatever field you choose. We, as women, must support one another so that no one can hold us back in any industry. Above all, we must rise and fight against the old patriarchal mindset, which should have died centuries ago!
Do you like bossing people around and telling them what to do? You might be a good fit for the role of a supervisor. Well, not really, we're just kidding okay!
Remember, people don't leave bad jobs, they leave bad bosses, and you wouldn't want that, would you? A supervisor’s role is so much more than commanding subordinates. And this article aims to help you understand what exactly these roles and responsibilities are, plus how you can climb the corporate ladder to become one.
But first, let's start with the very basic: “Who exactly is a supervisor, again?”
The corporate world is a fascinating domain with complex frameworks and mechanisms that hold up organisations. One of the most significant roles played by an individual in this grand framework is that of the supervisor.
While the position of the supervisor is valuable and almost akin to that of managers or team leaders, it has its own set of responsibilities and objectives. And if you're applying for that position in the near future, it's a wise idea to be able to at least distinguish between the three positions, as explained in greater detail below:
No, it's not just sitting and ordering people (in fact, it shouldn't be that at all!). On the contrary, the higher you climb, the more important tasks you would need to handle. At a glance, the post of a supervisor sounds exciting and oh-so-powerful.
However, as a lower-level managerial position for overseeing everyday performances, working as a supervisor entails several responsibilities to account for. Though the post can be rewarding, it's these responsibilities and challenges that make this post such a valued one in organisations. If you're eyeballing this position in the upcoming future, here are some of the responsibilities you're going to have to shoulder:
One of the primary responsibilities a supervisor is expected to account for is the efficiency and productivity of the team. You must be able to manage the team efficiently and oversee the overall workflow of the team and look into the tasks the team must accomplish. In addition to observing the team, you should be able to effectively communicate objectives and define goals to improve the workflow.
The supervisor is often assigned the role of attending to new employees and helping them realise their position in the team, supporting them in their position, and guiding them in the initial days. You must also be able to train them at their new post provide an orientation to the workplace and its policies and job duties. It's also necessary for you to work closely with human resources during the training period of new hires.
Most corporations work in shifts, which require planning and organisation. Hence, you should be able to make schedules for the entire team and ensure the team operates within the stipulated deadline. Managing employee schedules also lets the supervisor be flexible and open to changes among other employees.
The supervisor is accountable for the team and must be able to identify and evaluate employee performances. This also involves setting team objectives, incentives, and rewards for completing those objectives.
The supervisor must also play an active role in the career advancement of employees. You can help identify valuable employees and reward them for their services. If you cannot directly reward an employee, you can instead identify the employee as eligible for promotions. You'd often be consulted by senior managers during the promotion process.
Supervisors must also be responsible for the smooth functioning of the team. During a workplace dispute, you can exercise power to break up issues between employees. In addition, you can be approached by unhappy employees. Other than active listening skills, you must be able to resolve disputes or reach out with a viable solution. If the dispute is between colleagues, you often have to serve the role of a mediator till the issue has been straightened out.
Within a corporate framework, a supervisor is answerable to the HR and the senior management for reporting the team and its members. Other than assessing employees based on markers like their performances, professionalism, and punctuality, the supervisor is also expected to suggest performance improvement plans and boost productivity.
The primary objective behind the position of a supervisor is to oversee the performance of employees and their productivity. You'd be serving as an intermediary between the employees and senior management to maintain clear communication between the two.
They also play an important role in improving employee productivity through training and assigning tasks to help employees pursue their career objectives. The position of the supervisor helps retain employees, achieve team goals, and resolve conflicts within the workplace.
Now we come to the most important section – the skills and qualifications you would need to become a supervisor. This position can be quite demanding, and requires several skills and qualifications to be able to handle such responsibilities. Along with supervising skills, an individual must have management and leadership skills to succeed. Mentioned below are some of the necessary skills and qualifications required for becoming one:
In addition to the skills mentioned above, an individual aspiring for a supervisor position must have educational qualifications like a bachelor's degree or specialised course programs like office administration. Having some prior experience can also fast-track your application for this post!
So, you know what skills and qualifications you need to become a supervisor. But how to be a ‘great’ one? Let us share some secrets! The role of the supervisor is not limited to overseeing team productivity and efficiency. Instead, it extends to resolving conflicts, identifying valuable employees, and being appreciative of your subordinates. With these tips, you can foster better bonds with your employees, actively participate in the management technique, and become a great supervisor:
What are you waiting for? Apply for that supervisor position and knock it out of the ballpark!
However, you must also remember that being a good supervisor is always a work in progress. You must also be appreciative of your contributions, strengths, and weaknesses to work on yourself in being a better version of yourself.
Developing your skills is essential for your career and personal growth. With so many great courses available, it can be hard to know where to start. At GRIT Smarts, there are plenty of courses that are perfect for supervisors and managers.
Whether you're looking to improve your communication skills or learn about the latest leadership trends, GRIT Smarts has something for everyone. Sign up now and get started on your path to greatness!
When Covid-19 dealt its first blow and everyone was forced indoors, many turned to new forms of entertainment as a means of escape to the outside world, without actually being outside: Online streaming.
All over the world, Netflix, Youtube Premium, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and HBO GO became everyone’s new best friends. In the United Kingdom, at least 12 million people signed up for a new service they hadn’t used before!
Now that we’ve learnt to live and deal with the virus, that can only mean one thing: It’s back to the office for us. It's sad for those of us who's used to the comforts of home, but unfortunately for most of us, the decision to work from home or office rests in the hands of the respective upper management.
What lies in wait is the return of Monday blues, but not before Saturday bucket list must-dos, so you know you spent your weekend doing things that you want to do (read: not work).
Before you return to the office, chase away those preemptive gloominess by watching some of these workplace movies and getting your game face on! They may be about work, but they’re nowhere near boring and stuffy. They might just give you renewed inspiration for the work week ahead.
*Disclaimer #1: The availability of the movies are subject to the platforms’ discretion.
Even with company benefits and stable salaries, unfulfillment lies inside every employee – just like Peter. After a hypnotist bit, his outlook on work takes a 180-degree turn, shifting from a negative worrier to an honest, couldn’t-care-less attitude. Tired of mistreatment, Peter and his two closest colleagues devise a plan to steal money without being caught.
Navigating mundane cubicles, pretentious colleagues, and obnoxious bosses, those who have worked in corporate office settings will feel all too familiar watching this.
Sulley and Mike are coworker besties at Monsters Inc., a company that collects children’s screams. The duo are high achievers who are a perfect team, but when a child wanders into their world by accident, they have different views on how to take care of the situation.
In the end, they return the child to her world. But not before uncovering a major workplace conspiracy, defeating a scheming coworker, and learning the valuable lesson of teamwork.
By the time the end credits roll, you’ll either think, “Thank God I was nice to my waiter” or “OHMYGOD, I should’ve been nicer to my waiter!”
The crew at Shenaniganz work hard and play hard; all while juggling their hurdles in life and work. For those who work in the F&B or service line, certain scenes can feel like a mirror of your workday. Waiting… is all about making the right choices at work, and waiting for the day’s shift to finally end.
Fashion-ignorant Andy lands a job at the prestigious Runway magazine, serving as an assistant to the editor, the dragon-lady Miranda Priestly. Just as Andy begins to feel like she’ll never fit in and contemplates leaving, she decides to make a change that alters her career path drastically.
The representation of office dynamics between Andy, Miranda, and everyone else below Miranda's pay grade makes this movie highly relatable – particularly with Andy’s overworked career and Miranda’s scarily high demands.
Based on a real story, this movie showcases the pure grit and endurance that those with the harshest conditions in life have to push forward with. Despite struggling with poverty, Chris Gardner’s eventual climb to success will inspire you to keep pushing on, no matter the obstacles you face.
When martial arts beginner Po is suddenly crowned the Dragon Warrior, a title highly-coveted by his seniors, he is hesitant about his abilities and leadership. After all, he doesn’t have their level of experience or skills. As he acknowledges his strengths and weaknesses, his leadership abilities surface, and serve as an inspiration for all.
Ryan makes a living firing people, and he gets to do so while flying all over the country. While it may seem like a dream job that involves a whole lot of heartlessness, newcomer Natalie proposes a more cost-efficient alternative – conducting layoffs remotely. As they evaluate and experience this new method, they learn valuable lessons about themselves, intrapersonal communication, and more.
The title says it all: It’s about horrible bosses. Nick’s boss works him to the bone, Dale’s boss won’t stop making unwanted sexual advances, and Kurt’s boss was pretty nice until he died and his delinquent son took over. Their rants about them eventually turn into a plan to off their bosses once and for all, but their plans go awry, albeit in classic comedic fashion.
Despite their lack of tech-savviness, old-school salesmen Billy and Nick manage to secure internships at Google with peers considerably younger – and more competitive. Joining forces with several other ‘misfit’ interns, they conquer a series of work challenges and eventually come out on top, thanks to a little old-school knowledge and understanding.
Ben, a retired oldie, looks to get back into the working world and lands an internship at an online fashion site. Underestimated and underappreciated because of his age, he gradually develops a good rapport with his younger colleagues and the site’s founder, Jules. Most notably, he shows that even old-timers can bring something new to the table.
In 1960s America, this is the real story of three talented African-American women undermined at work because of their skin colour. Not only are they talented and gifted individuals, but they outshine their peers at NASA who will do anything to steal credit from them.
This movie portrays hard-hitting examples of racism, like whites-only toilets and coffee machines. Compared to our modern times, it shows that everybody deserves to be treated with respect despite our differences.
Michelle Darnell is a wealthy CEO-turned-criminal when she gets incarcerated for insider trading. With no money and nowhere to go upon her release, she turns to her former assistant Claire, who was inspired by her homemade brownies to begin a brownie empire. But old and new enemies are eager to take Michelle down, and her diminishing trust backfires on her.
Three women in one of America’s most powerful news networks divulge the truth about the harassment faced at the hands of their boss, Roger Ailes. This true story tackles the culture of workplace sexual harassment, where it was once deemed 'normal', as well as the pyramid structure of power and what one will do to reach the top.
Best friends Mia and Mel built their own cosmetics company from the ground up. While success is sweet, the finances aren’t. That all changes when an industry titan shows interest in buying them out, but the proposal puts the duo's friendship – and business – to the test.
Stanley has worked at the same fast-food joint for the past 38 years. Before he retires, he's assigned to train his replacement, millennial Jevon. Right off the bat, the differences between the way they work are visible and very relatable for workplaces with employees across different age groups and work ethics.
Guy lives his life repeating the same old routine, day in and day out. That’s because he’s a virtual character, and a non-playable character (NPC) to boot. Through a series of adventures, Guy steps into his hero shoes, helping Millie – who’s a real human, by the way – retrieve the game's source code stolen from her by the game’s head developer, Antwan.
The weekend may be over, but the workweek has just begun. While you engage in water cooler chit-chat with your colleagues, we hope these movies give you something to talk about. After all, who can resist trashy yet realistic workplace movies?
If you’re not interested in subscribing to these streaming platforms yet but still want to watch these movies, Google “[movie name] watch online” and try any of the links that appear. Although most of these free sites have ads, go ahead if you don’t mind!
*Disclaimer #2: We highly encourage our readers to watch these movies on websites that do not breach any media copyrights or legalities.
How would you feel if you went to work not to sit at your desk and work your fingers to the bone, but to have a little bit of fun and mingle with coworkers over foosball matches, ping pong games, or even fitness classes? Yup, you read that right. Some companies are now providing all kinds of fun activities for their employees to help them unwind!
The days of working in a stark and strict workplace should be long gone. Given that we're experiencing a fundamental shift in the way we work, doesn't it make more sense for modern workplaces to evolve and become more enjoyable? Moreover, businesses must invest in what will help them grow and thrive in the long run (Hint: It's the employees' happiness).
As a place that requires our attention for at least 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, the same old routine and monotonous place of work can make it dreary and dull. Companies should seriously consider ways to make work more exciting and stimulating. Numerous studies have even been conducted to demonstrate how having fun at work provides tangible benefits to both employers and employees.
For example, consider the well-known Google, which is always mentioned when it comes to having one of the best workplace cultures. Aside from the fact that it's one of the most prominent brands in the world, another major reason why many people want to work there is because of the fun work environment.
Google provides free perks such as top-of-the-line gyms and swimming pools, massages from professional masseurs, plus video game stations. While these benefits may add to the company's overhead expenditures, they pale in comparison to the money saved by lowering employee turnover.
If you find something enjoyable and entertaining, you'll of course want to do it more often. The same is true when you're at work. A study also found that workplace fun boosts employee engagement and autonomy among white-collar workers. Employees will be inspired to make positive changes in their workplaces, and will support the existing state of the office, if they perceive their management's support for fun.
As we all know, spending the majority of our days at work following the same routine can lead to a very stressful lifestyle, which brings with it a variety of health issues. Some people may feel just a little under the weather and decide to skip work for the day, while others may miss weeks of work due to a more serious illness.
According to TALiNT INTERNATIONAL, U.K. businesses lose nearly 7 days per year per employee due to absenteeism, amounting to a £554 loss per employee, and costing the British economy £100 billion per year! Furthermore, nearly a quarter (23%) of U.K. firms report 'non-genuine absence' as the leading cause of short-term absence.
Health-care costs should be considered as well. A finding from the American Psychological Association's estimate that workplace stress drains more than $500 billion from the U.S. economy. This statement is supported by the Integrated Benefits Institute, which reports that poor health costs U.S. employers almost $950 billion on health care benefits, and 1.5 billion days of presenteeism annually.
That being said, having a workplace that is enjoyable and allows employees to de-stress means they will be happier. Happier workers mean lesser medical claims, and more money for the company!
Most employers aren't intrigued by the idea of having fun at work because they believe it'll cost them money and reduce productivity, thereby costing the company. After all, you're in business to make money, not to see a bunch of employees hanging out at the foosball table.
But hold that thought, because Forbes believes that investing in employee happiness will bring in good returns. A survey of 1,549 employees across the United States found that 62.3% would accept a lower salary in exchange for better workplace perks. This means that if the working environment and amenities are excellent, employees will be eager to work.
An experiment was also conducted by the Social Market Foundation at the University of Warwick's Centre for Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy to measure the level of productivity when employees are happy and having fun. 700 participants were chosen at random and given simple rewards such as unexpected refreshments, or being shown a funny video by a well-known comedian.
The experiment discovered that individuals who received "happiness shocks" increased their productivity by an average of 12% and, in some cases, by as much as 20%. This demonstrates that happy employees are more productive and focused, which benefits employers in the long run.
Employees can improve their workplace relationships by participating in fun activities with their co-workers. According to research, employees who have best friends or friends at work are more engaged in their jobs, and are more likely to reach out for assistance if they need it.
By all means, this does not only happen with workplace entertainment, but employers should also consider team building, frequent team lunches and events, effective townhalls, plus a variety of other ways to foster team spirit.
As a result, employees tend to communicate more effectively and in a more positive tone, breaking down any potential barriers to achieving greatness at work. There's so much that people who work together can accomplish and benefit your business if they have a strong sense of camaraderie.
There’s a famous proverb: “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”
To be honest, all work and no play would not only make Jack dull, but also kill his creativity, motivation, flexibility, and potential. Going through the same routine, clocking in and out, and doing the same job every day can significantly reduce the potential for out-of-the-box thinking. Employees will always be in a negative mindset, especially if they have to drag their feet to work.
There’s a need for fun in the air to help the brain stimulate happy hormones and promote good ideas. It has been discovered that people with positive mindsets are 31% more creative than those who do not, and a lack of creativity can be disastrous for businesses.
Employees who are creative and think outside the box can be innovative and excellent problem solvers. Companies may benefit from new ideas and innovation that'll help them drive and grow their businesses.
Companies that want to attract new customers and grow should look no further than their employees, who can act as advocates for the brand. A recent study found that employee advocacy has a positive impact on growth and sales, due to increased brand awareness and positive perceptions.
So, how exactly does it work? When employers provide a fun, ideal, and engaging work environment, employees may share their experiences online. Almost everyone is on social media these days, and when employees share positive things about the company, the post will automatically reach people on their friend list, or possibly a larger audience if the post is public.
Besides that, many people are constantly on the lookout for jobs that offer attractive perks and benefits. If employers invest in making the workplace more involved and cooler, the company may be featured in articles or publications, boosting the company's visibility.
We now understand why all this is important, but some businesses may be unsure how to go about it, or could be hesitant because they believe it'll be time-consuming and costly. Not to worry, there are several options for making the workplace more enjoyable to work in!
It doesn’t have to be expensive to have a good time at work! Start small like creating a creative challenge for your employees. Give them a few minutes to look for a funny video on YouTube, and have them share in the company chatbox, so everyone can vote which is the funniest. This 5- to 10-minute break is enough to give them a little boost, so they can focus on their work afterward.
Employees often feel appreciated when their achievements are recognised and celebrated, especially when done publicly. It'll not only brighten their day but also boost their self-esteem and motivation. It could be a lunchtime birthday celebration, or an email congratulating everyone on their accomplishments.
Every leader would prefer if their team members get along well, but few are willing to put in the time and effort required to ensure they have great chemistry. Always encourage employees to get to know their co-workers as much as possible! At the office, employers can cook up activities that employees can enjoy together; outside the office, organise a once-a-month team-building activity, such as a trip to a funfair, karaoke sessions, or an hour at a new coffee shop. The better they work together, the happier they’ll be at work.
It's nice to have something to look forward to once a year. It could be anything from an annual dinner to a grand award ceremony or themed Town Halls that allow everyone to dress up, show off their talents, and do something out of the ordinary with their co-workers. This creates excitement for them as they look forward to letting loose together.
Employees love when they are seen and heard. Whether it's about implementing changes on the processes of work or on ways to have more fun at work. Try to get them to share their ideas on how to create a fun workplace. What matters is that when employees open up, companies should take them into account and do their best to make them a reality.
It might be a bit intimidating having to suddenly arrange new activities or set up a new culture at the workplace. Nonetheless, it's necessary to take into consideration better perks for the sake of everyone who works at the company.
Just a friendly reminder: Employers, don't be too strict and kill your employees' spirits by not allowing them to have fun at work, whereas employees who are already blessed with a fun work environment, appreciate those moments and always strive to do better!
At the end of the day, it's important to remember that work is such an important part of your life, and it's only natural to want to be happy while you're at work. As work can impact your mental health, your mental health can also affect your work. So, to both employers and employees, remember to have fun at work. It'll benefit your work style and your mental health too!
Whatever you do for a living, chances are, you'll encounter a task that needs to be delegated at some point in your career. Especially if you're a manager, team leader, or entrepreneur constantly trying to sustain and diversify the business.
The word 'delegation' refers to “a group of people who have been tasked with a specific job or given a specific purpose, or the act of assigning a specific task or purpose to a person or group of people.” In an office setting, this entails a superior assigning different responsibilities to various employees to complete a task.
Knowing how to delegate effectively makes all the difference for a responsible leader because it promotes open communication, trust, and collaboration while getting things done better and quicker. Believe it or not, effective delegation is one of the characteristics that distinguishes great leaders from ordinary bosses.
For example, a typical boss will try to do everything by himself/herself because he/she doesn't trust other people, then become enraged when things do not go as planned because no one is assisting... but, errr, who's fault is that?
A great leader, on the other hand, will define the tasks that must be completed, assign them to the relevant skilful employees, and take accountability if anything goes wrong. Isn't the latter type of boss way cooler, and more influential?
Still unsure about delegation? Not to worry, continue reading to learn the steps, tips, and why this skill is so important to a company's success.
You must know that delegation is more than just passing tasks over to people because you don't feel like doing them. It's all about delegating to the right people, being fair, and getting the job done well. Also, when delegating, avoid micromanaging by imposing too much control, direction, and input on the employees.
No one likes being watched over their shoulders or called in for updates all the time before they can even complete the job properly. Keep in mind that delegation necessitates a great deal of trust, communication, and coordination, and when done correctly, everyone on your team benefits.
Having said that, effective delegation involves the following four steps:
As a boss, you probably have a lot on your plate, and if you don't delegate properly, it could eat you alive. You don't want to end up stressed and burned out! It may be difficult to delegate because you believe you can do it yourself, or simply don’t want to burden others. So, the next time you’re in this situation, consider the following:
If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, delegating it to someone capable will likely be much better.
Certainly, the tasks you have aren't all the same and can most likely only be completed by people who have the needed competencies. You must assess each employee's skill level, dependability, and performance to determine which task is best suited to them.
Now that you've decided who you'll delegate to, let's move on to the next step.
Delegating a task is more than just sending a single-line email that says, "Hi Bella, I need you to do this assignment and the deadline is next week, thank you."
When delegating, it's preferable (more like compulsory!) to provide clear instructions to the employees who will be performing the task. You must be very specific and make them aware of your expectations so that they do not become confused.
If thorough details are provided in advance, things will run much more smoothly, and there'll be less chance of errors.
When the completed work is submitted to you, make sure to provide constructive feedback to your employee after carefully reviewing the work. This part is critical so that the person doing the work knows if they did a good job, or if they need to improve.
Make an effort to recognise your employees' good work so they'll be motivated to work harder and do better the next time. If your expectations are not met, you must discuss why this occurred, give helpful comments, and ensure they fully comprehend and can improve for future tasks.
Delegation appears to be fairly straightforward because you might see it as merely assigning tasks to specific people. However, not everyone appears to be up to it, and some may not even know where to begin. There are numerous impediments to leaders delegating work to their employees, such as:
For some leaders, the actual issue is a lack of expertise. It's possible that they were never taught to delegate or that they haven't done so in a long time. These are some of the methods for developing or improving delegation skills.
Any leader out there should be able to delegate effectively because failing to do so has ramifications for the organisation's future success. This includes feeling overwhelmed, having low levels of team engagement, delegating at the wrong level, failing to foster relationships with team members, and, worst of all, losing good employees to other companies.
These tips are beneficial not only for leaders who are unsure of how to delegate but also for all employees who may be in charge of delegation when necessary. You must now be wondering...
Well, leaders are not the only ones who must constantly delegate at work. Regular employees are occasionally put in situations where they must delegate responsibility. For example, you may find that the work given to you is excessive and you feel compelled to share it with another colleague. What you might do is ask your boss for permission to delegate the tasks to other team members.
Another scenario is that your company is trying to form a health and safety committee to care for all staff in the workplace. Assuming you're a regular employee who has been appointed as the committee's leader. You must then obtain first aid kits, contact the fire station, pinpoint the nearest hospital, find an ambulance contact, get CPR classes, and the list goes on.
Do you think you'll be able to keep things running smoothly if you try to do everything yourself? You might end up running around panicked and frustrated. Wouldn’t it be better to form a team of responsible members and delegate each task to the relevant person? Now, let's get to one of the most significant questions regarding delegation!
If done correctly, work delegation will benefit every level of a company, whether you're on the receiving or giving end. To be fair, the importance must be assessed from two perspectives: Employees of all ranks and the company itself.
As we all know, not every employee is made equal, but these are some of the possibilities that may be expected from employees of all levels with fair and effective delegation:
Some of the key benefits for the company when employees properly assign jobs, do outstanding work, and complete them on time are as follows:
Does the name Sir Richard Branson ring a bell? A Google search for this Virgin Group founder yields a plethora of articles, guides, and stories about his business principles for becoming a great leader. One of the most important is, of course, effective delegation.
His story of delegating is well-recorded on Virgin’s website where he was quoted, “It’s vital to the success of your business that you learn to hand off those things that you aren’t able to do well. I’m not saying that you should never try your hand at a new skill – entrepreneurs are usually insatiably curious."
This demonstrates how important delegation is for business success. Sir Richard Branson began with just one company, Virgin Records, in 1970, and now there are more than 40 Virgin companies in over 35 countries. And get this: His net worth, as of February 2022, is $6 billion!
You now understand how critical it is to not only delegate but to do so effectively to achieve better outcomes. It may not be easy at first, and it certainly wasn't for Sir Richard Branson, but the more you do it, the more experience you will gain, and you will one day delegate like the great leader you know you can be!
Regardless of whether you're a leader or a regular employee, you can and should always delegate to make a specific job more efficient. This is not only for work, but it will also benefit you in your personal life. As a result, you'll be able to achieve a better work-life balance and enjoy greater peace.
“I don’t deserve this success.”
“I’m just lucky.”
“There are other people better than me. I’m not skilled enough.”
Do all of the above sound like you, whenever something good happens? Now, if the answer is yes, that’s could actually be your imposter syndrome talking.
While it can feel more like being humble and down-to-earth, the truth is that it’s literally what this condition is all about.
From the Merriam-Webster dictionary, this is defined as “...a false and sometimes crippling belief that one's successes are the product of luck or fraud, rather than skill.” Essentially, someone with imposter syndrome will feel like their accomplishments happen merely because of good fortune.
Some say it could be caused by being brought up in families who place a higher value on achievements. Coupled with the societal pressure to achieve, excel, and stay modest, it can strain individuals as they evaluate their self-worth based on what they’ve achieved.
Imposter syndrome can affect anyone regardless of their level of education, expertise, or even social status. At work, it's especially prevalent among high performers and the process of imposter thoughts is known as an ‘imposter cycle’ (see diagram below).
When given an achievement-related task, an individual with imposter syndrome may face anxiety, self-doubt, and worry. This leads to that person becoming over-prepared, or start procrastinating.
Once the task is completed, naturally, it is followed by relief and positive feedback. However, the individual may feel that all this is only due to either high effort (over-preparation) or sheer luck (procrastination). This discounts the positive feedback, causing the person to feel perceived fraudulence, increased self-doubt, depression, and anxiety.
If not managed properly, imposter syndrome can lead to self-sabotage and feelings of low self-worthiness, not just at work, but in their personal lives too. Studies report that at least 70% of people have experienced imposter syndrome at least once in their career.
It may seem like it's a never-ending spiral of 'get task > get lucky > get job done > get imposter syndrome > rinse and repeat'. However, we're here to tell you that this can actually be managed, and it all starts with you! Here's the little steps that you can do to start managing this sort of thought process better:
List down your experiences, skills, the problems you have solved, and the projects you have led. These are the fruits of your labour and something you accomplished yourself. And, get this, these are all real, unlike the fantasy impression of being an imposter!
The main takeaway of this activity is to be aware of your own goals and achievements without any comparison. This way, you’ll be able to take a step back and see for yourself what makes you special, and ask the person in the mirror, “Are you really an imposter?”
It's actually quite alright to feel depressed, anxious, insecure, confused, frustrated, or even angry at yourself. Emotions are what makes us human, and keeps us continually evolving. Permit yourself to acknowledge them and the space to own them.
When this happens, write down how you feel so you can reflect on how it affects you emotionally. This exercise helps you identify signs of imposter syndrome so you can tackle it better in the long run.
Reframing the negative messages we tell ourselves to positive ones rewrites our mindset and outlook. Not only does it make us feel better, but we become more mindful of our thoughts and narratives.
Instead of “It only happened because of luck,” or “Other people are better than me,” turn it into words of positive affirmation like “I put in a lot of effort,” or “I am better than merely 'good enough'.”
When we compare, we don’t just create feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem. We actually end up perceiving ourselves as constantly being lesser than everyone else, and never good enough.
Instead of inducing self-sabotage, the only comparison you should make is between you and yourself, and outdo your own successes. Everyone is running their race, and remember, nobody is your toughest competition but you!
Without a strong support network, all the effort of instilling positive mindfulness and determination can crumble easily. Surround yourself with people who can uplift, reassure, motivate, and provide support – whether they’re your immediate teammates, industry acquaintances, or a new club you’ve begun.
A simple little exercise that you can carry out is to ask yourself how you might best encourage your support network who keeps downplaying their accomplishments, and then applying that same supportive language on your ownself!
If overcoming imposter syndrome sounds challenging and frightening, you’re not alone. After all, celebrities like David Bowie, Serena Williams, Tina Fey, Natalie Portman, Emma Watson, Tom Hanks, and Maya Angelou have once confessed to feeling like a fraud before!
That question sounds like it's quite the ridiculous thing to ask, but remember, every cloud has a silver lining (if you look hard enough)! Imposter syndrome is exhausting to tackle, but can be beneficial, if managed appropriately and with the proper coping mechanics.
As it commonly affects high achievers, working with an imposter (or two) means you’re part of a highly-intelligent, driven team. It also indicates that you’re constantly challenging yourself – by exploring beyond your comfort zone and pursuing growth.
Feelings of being an imposter can be confused with humility and respect, but that’s actually a good thing. It keeps your self-confidence in check and prevents feelings of superiority or ego. Hence, you are less likely to take opportunities or new experiences for granted.
Your interpersonal performance at work may also improve, thanks to imposter syndrome. When employees feel their level of competence is lower than what others think, they are encouraged to prove themselves interpersonally by helping and cheering others on.
Imposter feelings are mainly driven by emotions and opinions rather than objectivity. When you eliminate the former two and consider all the concrete data in your hands, you realise that your achievements are warranted and purposeful.
Learning to embrace imposter syndrome and using it to your advantage is a long journey. When in doubt, remember that your feelings are completely valid and go as you can, so long as you don't stop.
Work getting you down? We’ve all been there, and it’s only human to be disheartened and demotivated with work-life every once in a while. While building a career is extremely important, so is prioritising mental health as it can directly influence how we analyse and perform.
And nowadays, when our career is always at the top of our concerns, paying attention to our mental health is integral to keep up our productivity in the office. Furthermore, mental health plays a huge role in our ability to organise and pursue personal accomplishments through a stressful week of work.
If you’ve been feeling out of sync with your work lately, there’s nothing to feel ashamed about! Keeping up with everyday work (on top of personal obligations) can be stressful, and it's quite normal to be grumpy about it. As long as you’re able to get your groove back, a short period of work-life blues is normal. To help you with the process, here are some essential tips to help you motivate yourself to resume working.
Workloads can often be daunting, and without proper organisation, they can add to your plight. Proper management can help you free up time to commit to your work, and also accomplish your tasks with precision. To make your workload more manageable, you can start by creating a routine for your day that allows you to designate sufficient time required to get each task done, without compromising on taking some time to breathe.
You can squeeze in a short breather in between work to relieve some stress from grinding for long hours. Not only does it allow you a change of pace, but it also lends you a fresher perspective before resuming work. From getting a refreshing drink to having a quick chat with your colleagues, this short break can be utilised for indulging in anything but work!
Some tasks can be too overwhelming to start with. However, breaking your task into smaller steps can be helpful in maintaining stability, and getting your work done on time. This method also lets you approach the task through smaller, attainable goals which can be easily accomplished. Not only does this boost your confidence, but it also reduces the chances of making any critical error. Don’t forget to celebrate each time you complete a mini task!
Stressful work-life can tire you out quickly. Therefore, to be able to work optimally, you must first take care of yourself. This includes good eating habits, proper hydration, and sufficient rest. When it comes to your eating habits, you must have a well-balanced diet consisting of adequate protein and green, leafy vegetables. It’s also beneficial to cut down on your intake of caffeine and complex sugars, such as those contained in soda and candies.
Like food, sufficient rest also plays an effective role in keeping your body and mind in sound condition. As an adult, an individual requires 7-9 hours of sleep to be able to function. Other than looking after your body, you should also pay attention to yourself by taking care of your mind, by listening to relaxing music or doing a quick meditation session.
With a hectic schedule and everyday stress, it’s often easy to lose track of your accomplishments. To be able to remotivate yourself, it’s important to take into consideration your personal progress and see how far you’ve come. Being able to go through your accomplishments gives you a sense of relief and helps you come out of a slump.
Working through the week without taking care of yourself too, can often prove difficult and morose. As the days go by, keeping up your productivity can prove to be challenging. However, these motivational quotes might just be the thing you need to survive the blues of ticking off that to-do list.
After a short weekend, returning to work on a Monday can be pretty rough. But it’s also important to start off your week on a good, productive note. With these uplifting quotes from the best thinkers, here’s to wishing you a delightful day:
Moving on to Tuesday, it’s important to keep up the good work and the momentum going. Though it can be easier said than done, with these motivational quotes on hand, you can prepare for anything that comes your way:
With Wednesday setting in, you’re already halfway to the weekend, look at you go! You would want to keep up that streak of productivity with these inspiring quotes:
Trivia time: Did you know that Wednesday, being the middle of the work week, came to be known as 'hump day'? It signifies that it's the final "hump" to be cleared in order to coast into the weekend!
Just a bit more, and you’ll be through with another week of work. With your unyielding focus and efforts, getting all your work done should be a piece of cake on Thursday. Here are a few encouraging quotes to reflect your unabated energy:
As Friday rolls in, you’re almost done with another busy week of work and accomplishing personal goals. Having passed successfully, let these heartening quotes accompany you through the last working day:
And that’s how you survive another week, getting closer to your goals with each step. And now that the weekend is here, you can relax and reflect on how far you’ve progressed with these quotes:
Work is important, but so are you! And it’s okay to not have to be tough all the time. With these motivational quotes, give yourself that much-needed boost of self-confidence to get through a stressful week.
Just think of it this way, every grey cloud has a silver lining and everything passes. This shall also pass and bring forth a time that will be for unwinding and relaxing. So, buckle up and prepare for another productive week ahead!
A manager is generally understood as the person who is the administrative head of a firm, and responsible for controlling and directing the organisation. A business can have several departmental managers, and there’s also a manager who shoulders the responsibility of looking after the whole business.
In a corporate framework, the managerial position is vital because it involves performing crucial roles like planning, staffing, organising, and directing the business. These roles need to be achieved in order to ensure the company functions smoothly.
A firm can appoint more than one manager for different posts and responsibilities. Generally, there are three sets of managers who control and administer the other employees. This hierarchy is split between the top-level manager, mid-level manager, and customer service manager:
They oversee the operations of a firm as a whole. The roles of the top-level managers include improving the efficiency of the business, and increasing profit every year. They’re also responsible for the supervision of company matters including budget overviewing, employing marketing strategies, and managing staff members.
They’re the functional heads of the business, and their responsibilities include handling different teams, negotiating with other team managers to streamline various processes, and accomplishing the company's goals. The mid-level manager also approves the final steps during the project management plan development. They often manage and assist the problems related to team member performance to bring about improvements in the department’s functioning.
They’re commonly in charge of the daily activities of an organisation that involves communicating and liaising with customers. The services of the customer service managers aren’t just limited to handling customers; rather, they’re also responsible for connecting and communicating with relevant teams to solve any and all issues, thus ensuring customer loyalty and improving the brand image of the company.
Though Michael Scott from The Office made it look so easy breezy, being in the position of the managerial head requires some special skills. As shown below, these skills are usually dependent on the abilities and attributes that an executive must have to run the firm efficiently.
Running a business efficiently demands quick-witted technical skills. These involve boosting sales, designing different programmes and services for both the customers and the employees, as well as marketing products. Many companies prioritise technical skills when it comes to recruiting someone for the managerial post.
Furthermore, these also include improving the engagement among employees. Being a role model and setting the right goals for the employees so that they can achieve a variety of objectives, are some of the fundamental roles of a manager. For a manager, technical skills are a key help for company analyses related to product endorsements, buying and selling stocks, and more.
These are fundamental for a management role since it helps in identifying and solving intricate issues within the organisation. They play an important role as they allow the company to run optimally without any hindrances, and overcome a myriad of perplexing issues.
This type is very important from the managerial perspective, as they can use their conceptual skills to better understand their employees and come up with unique ideas to work together, thus bringing out the best in them. Managers are often required to deal with multiple complex crises where conceptualising skills make sure these problems can be resolved effectively and creatively.
Having this helps managers to understand and sympathise with their employees. In the workplace, human interpersonal skills involve communicating, listening, and appreciating employees. Managers play an impactful role in leading and inspiring employees to work productively,hence why these are considered valuable.
Though interpersonal skills mostly depend on an individual's personality, they can also be acquired and cultivated through consistent interactions with other people. When working with a team, interpersonal skills help generate camaraderie among employees, and maintain a positive and solution-oriented attitude in the business.
Leadership skills are key to appointing an individual as the manager. An ideal manager is expected to boost workplace morale, improve productivity, and help subordinates to accomplish their professional goals.
Having leadership goals help managers to create a vision, and lead employees towards it. He/she will also be able to create a safer work environment, on whom employees can fall back on to discuss and effectively resolve issues.
Running a business requires time and finite resources that need to be utilised and managed with precision. To be able to do so, the manager needs to be more attentive towards their time management skills.
This is especially crucial for managers who have been tasked with several responsibilities, to be able to handle a lot of work at once and assess the duties within a short period of time.
A good manager whom everyone looks up to must inculcate the following qualities:
An individual aspiring to be in a managerial post has to be able to effectively converse with customers and subordinates alike. Being able to articulate impactfully and convey valuable information through regular conversations is essential for the manager to keep the company working smoothly.
A business cannot operate on its own. To keep up productivity and accomplish goals, the manager must be equipped with team-building abilities. Though not always easy, team building is a must-have quality for managerial posts to ensure that the team maintains good rapport and functions well.
As a manager, you’ll need to make important business decisions. Sometimes the decision-making process can prove to be difficult, but with critical thinking and creative reasoning, managers can effectively figure out the best solutions during a crisis.
There are no set pieces of training that can help you ascend the managerial ladder in a company. The training required would depend on the kind of industry you’re working in, the type of work required in the firm, as well as identifying the skills you lack that you need to improve on.
For example, if you’re working in information technology, you need to have the core domain knowledge to get promoted to the managerial level. You also need to train in the different latest technological innovations so that you can prove to be an invaluable asset to any company. Not to mention, you also need the above-mentioned skills such as decision making, leadership, and communication.
There are bad managers and good managers, and then there are great managers. To be a great manager you need to involve yourself in the business completely, understand your responsibilities, resolve queries of the employees, handle customers quickly and tactfully, and overall contribute towards the improvement of the company. Simply ordering your employees about, and imposing a hierarchy, can never make you a great manager.
It might be easy to become one, but difficult to keep up with the responsibilities. You’ll have a lot of tasks to work on, and you need to ensure the improvement of your company. As long as you are adequately devoted to your work and have great interpersonal skills, ascending to a managerial position should be a walk in the park for you.
A new manager must be equipped with skills like organising, leadership quality, and the ability to deal with changes. It’s also important to be well associated with the employees and build a peaceful relationship between them.
You can apply for a managerial post after completing a bachelors or a master’s degree in business or accounting. However, depending on the responsibilities, different departments can require different educational qualifications.
Managing a business requires a lot of tireless work and dedication. If you think you have all the skills mentioned above, or you can develop them, a managerial position could be the right place for you. You’ll always have a space to showcase your talent, quality, and growth.
It’s very important to grow individually along with your business, and both the growths might overlap in many beneficial ways. If you have leadership qualities and great interpersonal skills, you can definitely consider a career as a manager in a prestigious company.
The concept of internships is to allow anyone who lacks the working experience to get hands-on knowledge in a particular field. Employers nowadays emphasise on hiring candidates that demonstrate a good work portfolio or resume, regardless of whether it’s an internship, actual job experience, or even volunteer work.
An internship is considered an official programme provided by organisations or companies to provide real-life work experience, especially for students or fresh graduates. In exchange for being a worker for a specific time in a company, interns are promised to be taught skills that are essential to their career.
So, why is an internship so valuable? Simply put: You’ll gain real-world exposure! In today’s job market, your CGPA or examination grades just aren’t good enough to land you a job. The real-life exposure will help you acquire the desired knowledge and skills to move forward in your career.
An internship also allows you to establish your professional network connections, as a vast connection even before you even graduate is a huge stepping stone. It enables you to have more job opportunities, and in case your contacts aren’t able to provide you with a job, they can write you a good referral letter!
Having first-hand experience in your industry is important when it comes to landing your first job. However, that’s only if your potential employer gave you a chance to talk about yourself in an interview. And to get that, you’ll need a professionally written internship report.
Think of an internship report like your diary, except that it’s professionally written. In this report, you’re to summarise your working experience as an intern, and the skills you’ve acquired. It will have all the relevant details regarding how you apply those skills, what tasks you’ve completed, and the general responsibilities that you have in that company as its intern.
So, why exactly would the potential employer want your internship report? That’s because having it will allow them to know if your experience is needed, or aligns with what they’re looking for in a candidate.
And besides, having this can still be helpful for your own personal evaluation to improve yourself better! We’ve already listed down all the necessary steps and a template for you, keep reading to find out.
The key point of your internship report is to cover most of the details regarding your working experience. This, of course, includes the soft and hard skills you’ve developed along the way.
And although we’ve provided you with a general step-by-step format, do note that there might be different instructions on how you should write your report, depending on the preference of the company.
The general creation process of your internship report is as below:
The first impression is always important. We believe you’ve heard of this phrase more than once in your life. And you’ve guessed it! The function of the title page is to give a good first impression on whoever is reading your report and separate you from other candidates who might be submitting theirs at the same time. This is why it’s crucial for you to include your name, which university you’re from, the name of the company you’re working or have worked with, as well as a brief introduction on who you are.
It’ll also be helpful for the employers or hiring manager if you include a table of contents after the title page. Since you’ll be having a lot of information written, having a handy list of all the headers and sub-headers in your report allows readers to navigate to the page they’re most interested in reading.
Every internship comes with learning objectives. You wouldn’t be going for one, unless there’s something you want to gain and acquire from that company. Hence, listing down the knowledge and skills will allow the employers/directors to know if you’ve accomplished your learning objectives upon finishing the internship.
It’ll be best if you include a relevant history regarding the company in your report. The information you write can include the date the company was founded, their purpose, vision, and mission statement, the industries they’re in, the type of tasks, products, services they do, and any other relevant details. These will allow your readers to understand better the responsibilities and experience you’ve had while working there.
Before discussing what you’ve learned and the skills you’ve acquired, it’s best if you guide your readers through the role and responsibilities you’ve had in that organisation. Understanding the overview of your internship makes it easier for them to have an idea of the challenges, tasks, and accomplishments that you’ve gotten in that internship.
Consider this as the main body of your report. Anyone who comes across your internship report will be looking at what you’ve learned, the problems and challenges you’ve solved, as well as the skills you’ve acquired along the way. In this section, you need to be descriptive regarding the specific things you’ve done, and relate all these experiences to your educational background. Provide a detailed explanation of how these skills are cultivated, and how the theories you’ve learned from your studies have helped overcome the issues you’ve faced while working.
Last but not least, it’s important to conclude your internship experience in a succinct manner. Try and keep your conclusion around 1-2 paragraphs to explain the essential skills and experience you’ve gained from a few of the major tasks you’ve completed. You should also include your opinion as well, such as what are the things you think you can do better, if there are any other ways to solve a particular problem, how you’d like to be more involved in a certain aspect of the business, etc.
Title page
[Name]
[Class]
[Internship dates]
[Internship company]
Table of contents
Company information
[Company name] was founded in [year] with the vision to [details of the vision]. The company’s mission is to [mission statement]. [Company name] plays an important role in the [name of the industry] industry. I chose to intern in this organisation because I want to contribute to their mission which is aligned and relevant to my career goals.
Internship description
My role at [Company name] was to [details of your job description]. I worked directly with the [department] and [other relevant departments (if any)] in ensuring [internship responsibilities].
Overview of internship experience
During my internship with [Company name], I was able to experience working first-hand with [the tasks you’ve completed], and through that, I’m able to develop my [skills you’ve acquired]. I found out that my [experiences] are useful in solving issues related to [problems you’ve solved]. Although I am considered to be less experienced with [the tasks/issues you’ve faced], I’m able to solve the problems with the help of my team by [describing how you apply the skills you’ve acquired].
Outgoing consideration
While I’ve gained many experiences and skills at the [Company name], I feel that I’m still lacking the confidence to solve [tasks you wished you were better at doing]. If I’m allowed more time to learn and participate at the [the aspects of the job you wanted to join], I would be able to polish my skills more in solving the [tasks/issues you’ve faced].
In conclusion, [details].
The best part of being young is that you’re allowed to make mistakes and learn from them, and where’s a better place to enable you to learn by experiencing the tasks first-hand, other than your internship? This is why it’s essential for you to choose an internship that best suits your career goals!
Before we send you off to a lifetime of adventure ahead, here are a few tips for writing an effective internship report:
We wish you all the best in your future endeavours!