How to Encourage Efficient Work Between Multiple Departments

In my profession, I’m required to work with multiple departments within a single company. Working with these departments requires me to possess a clear understanding of what each departments’ roles are within the business and how they all connect to one another. When trying to negotiate any aspect of a business or teach the company how they could improve and create more value, I must know how to communicate effectively with various types of people in many different roles. This job can be challenging because it requires an understanding of business, finance, law, and a few other specialties.

Even if you are not working in the same capacity I am, there is still significant value in understanding how to effectively communicate and work between different departments within a business. No matter where you work, it’s likely that you’ll have to work with other departments and it’s important to understand how to work together in an efficient way that benefits everyone involved. Follow this advice to successfully encourage collaboration throughout your company and achieve genuine success.

Facilitate networking events

If you truly want people to work seamlessly between departments, you need to start with creating opportunities for them to get to know one another. Take time to plan and attend network events in order to meet people who work in different capacities for the company. Employees are able to connect outside of work and get to know each other on a personal level so they can become comfortable with talking at work and working together.

Work on special projects together

Giving employees the opportunity to work on various projects together is a wonderful way to encourage work amongst departments. All of a company’s departments are working to help the company run more smoothly, so take advantage of this fact and actually give employees the opportunity to work on projects together.

Promote internally

If you want to foster a desire in your employees to work across departments, look to hire internally for positions before taking on external candidates. Hiring from within gives the business to help current employees and hire people who already understand the values of the company. It also helps employees see the value of staying with your company and learning about other departments because it may provide more opportunities.

Use common language

Though various roles have certain jargon, aim to keep company language as consistent as possible. Then, it’ll be easier for people in various departments to communicate with each other about what they’re currently working on and other aspects of the business.

Communicate developments

A lot of companies fail when it comes to successful communication. Keep all departments and employees aware of developments within the company; update them on new goals, steps made to reach goals, and any other information related to the company. When employees feel in the loop for news across departments, it’s easier to work with those other departments.

Regularly ask for feedback

Encourage departments heads to ask for feedback from employees; do they feel they have a deep understanding of what other departments do? Are there areas they’d like to know more about? Opening up channels of communication with employees and across departments makes it easier for everyone within the company to work together.

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5 Books for Personal and Career Success

Regardless of where you are in your career or personal life, there’s always room for improvement. For most of us, we’re continuously striving toward our goals and aiming to better ourselves. Sometimes, it can feel overwhelming as you work to improve areas of your life. Often, we don’t know where to start or how to get the motivation to tackle some new project. A great way to help yourself along this path is through reading and learning about new ways to work toward your goals. There are plenty of resources out there to use, but here are a few of the top books to help you achieve personal and career success.

Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg

It’s incredibly likely you’ve already heard of Sandberg’s book; people have been talking about how phenomenal it is since it was published. Focusing on women and their mission for personal and professional success, Sandberg uses a mix of research, personal experiences, and other anecdotes to share advice for working women. Sandberg uses her wit and wisdom to provide actual advice to women working hard to achieve their goals in the workplace.

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

This book has been around for a while and frequently crops up in conversations about books that can seriously influence your outlook on life and your drive for success. Carnegie published this book in 1937; it may seem like it’s outdated, but it still ranks highly as one of the most-read books on achieving personal success. In this book, Carnegie addresses the best ways to deal with other people. Even though it was written almost a century ago, let’s face it; people have always acted the same way. One takeaway is that Carnegie stresses the importance of genuineness in your interactions with others, no matter what you’re doing.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

Over 15 million copies of this book have been sold. When it was published, it signaled a new interest in personal development that we see continued today. Covey focuses on various habits you can use in order to become more effective at whatever you’re doing. He doesn’t promise a quick fix, but he offers quality advice on how to improve your life.

How to Have a Good Day by Caroline Webb

In this book, Webb gives an overview of her extensive experience in consulting and the tricks and tips she’s used to achieve success. She offers applicable advice on how to handle nearly any aspect of business, even those parts that seem unimportant. Focusing on how behavioral science can impact your professional life, you’ll appreciate her candid advice.

Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth

Duckworth has spent many years studying psychology and is a renowned academic. In her experience, true success depends much less on your talent and more on your attitude. You can have all the talent in the world, but if you lack the correct attitude, you’ll find it more difficult to reach your goals. Duckworth focuses on the idea of “grit” and how possessing this quality can help you overcome any obstacle.

6 Tips for Traveling Poland Like a Local

No matter where you’re traveling, you’re going to want to fit into the local culture. Big tourist destinations can be great to see and spend some time at, but it’s also important to experience where you are like a local. Many cities are much different from how they’re presented to tourists; take time to see what a new place is truly like by experiencing it like a local. While there are some tips you can apply no matter where you go, I’m going to highlight traveling in Poland.

Understand basic facts

One of the best ways to experience a new city or country like a local is to simply familiarize yourself with the place before you go there. Learn how the public transportation works and what type of currency is used (in Poland, they use the zloty, though some establishments accept euros). Know what airports are located where and some basic facts about the culture. Take the time to learn common Polish phrases that can help with communicating while you’re traveling.

Actually talk to locals

When you’re in Poland, actually make an effort to communicate with the locals. Some people may not speak English very well, but many are willing to talk to you and give advice on great places to visit or get food. Do not be shy about talking to locals; even if they aren’t particularly friendly, most people are welcoming!

Try the traditional food

Poland has incredible cuisine. No matter what dietary restrictions you have, there’s bound to be some type of traditional Polish food you can try. Even if it doesn’t sound that appealing, step outside of your comfort zone a little. Perogies are one of the most traditional Polish foods and come in a variety of types; go ahead and give them a try.

Visit other cities

It can be tempting to simply go to the big cities, such as Warsaw or Krakow, but there are many other towns and cities to see in Poland. Find smaller places that have historical significance or beautiful sites. Most cities are known for something interesting, so find a place off the beaten path to visit. It might be more difficult to find people who speak English, but the uniqueness of your trip will more than make up for it.

Check out natural sites

One of the most rewarding experiences of traveling is seeing the natural beauty in new places. Most travelers tend to stick to teeming cities and visit man-made sites. However, no matter where you go, there are natural wonders you can see. In Poland, you can hike (or ski, depending on the time of year) the Karkonosze Mountains. These beautiful peaks run along the border Poland shares with the Czech Republic and offer stunning views.

Utilize technology

Luckily, we now live in the age of technology, which makes travel much easier. Check out online forums or blogs in order to get an idea of local places to visit while traveling. There are plenty of websites and apps that make it even easier to travel as a local; learn as much as you can before your trip!

5 Tips for Saving for Retirement While You’re Young

No matter how old you are, it’s never too early to begin planning for retirement. The earlier you start, the better shape you’ll be in when it comes time to leave the workforce. You may adore your job and never want to leave, but eventually it’s going to be time to stop working and retire. When you’re young, retirement is decades away and seems like something you can worry about in the future. However, it’s important to begin thinking about this important decision now and taking steps to give future you a great retirement.

Open a Roth IRA

If you’re young, one of the first steps you should take for retirement is opening a Roth IRA. There are other types of retirement accounts, but for most people in their 20s (and sometimes 30s), a Roth IRA is the best option. Do your own research to decide what type of account is best for you, but open your account as soon as possible and begin saving. Even if you aren’t working full-time, putting away a little money at a time goes a long way.

Utilize work options

If you have career and are working full-time, it’s likely your company offers the chance to put money into a retirement account, such as a 401(k). Take advantage of this offer. It can be tempting to simply take as much money in your paycheck as possible, but even setting aside a small amount from your paycheck is a good idea, especially if your company offers to match what you contribute to the account. It’s free money that you’ll benefit from later in life.

Set up automatic deposits

You might tell yourself you’ll contribute a certain amount of money to your retirement fund each month, but it can be difficult to remember and you may be tempted to skip a month in order to put that money toward something else you want to purchase. If it’s possible, cut back on spending in other areas in order to contribute as much as possible to your retirement funds. Set up automatic deposits so you don’t have to remember to transfer the money; if you take it off of your paycheck before you get paid, you won’t notice it’s gone.

Understand the process

One of the big reasons people don’t start saving for retirement at a young age is because they do not clearly understand the importance of saving or the process of it. Educate yourself and save for your future. If the idea of investments confuses you, find a company that does most of the work for you, has low fees, and understand the basics of investing your retirement funds.

Don’t cash out

As tempting as it may be to pull money out of a retirement fund because you think you really need it, avoid doing this as much as possible. You’re only hurting yourself in the future by pulling money out and usually you’ll have to pay a fee or some other kind of penalty if you withdraw money from your account before you’re supposed to. Instead, build up a solid emergency fund so you don’t have to fall back onto your retirement savings.

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How to Fight Major Homesickness When Moving Abroad

Whether you’re moving to another country for your job, for a semester abroad, or if you’re going because you think it would be exciting, it can be difficult to adjust to living in a completely new place. Being alone or with a few family members makes for a huge change and adjustment to living in a new country where you’re unfamiliar with many of the customs and possibly even the language. While moving abroad can be a difficult transition, it’s certainly worth it and it’ll be an experience you’ll never forget. If you’re set on moving to another country, here are some tips on how to combat any homesickness you might experience.

Stay in contact

The single most important thing you can do to combat homesickness when you’re living in another country is to keep in regular contact with the people you’re close to back home. Schedule regular calls with your family and close friends; you’ll all have different schedules, but getting on the phone once a week or a few times a month can be managed. Thanks to technology, it’s easier than ever to communicate. Send texts, emails, photos, or even letters regularly.

Plan visits

While this isn’t something you can do every week or month, planning occasional visits to each other is a great idea. Invite friends and family from home to come visit sometime throughout your time abroad. If you’re living in another country for a significant length of time, make plans for when you’ll be able to visit home. Even once a year can be refreshing for you and help with homesickness.

Keep it familiar

A simple step you can take to lessen your homesickness is to create some familiarity in your new home. Hang up pictures that remind you of home or keep some of your same routines. Avoid trying to completely recreate your home in a new country because you’ll realize it’s impossible, but having some familiar items can make you feel better.

Make new connections

In order to help get rid of homesickness, begin creating connections in your new home. Get out to events and meet new people. It might be daunting at first, but once you have friends in your new country, you’ll have a busy social life and miss home a little less. It’ll also help you assimilate into your new culture and really experience what it’s like living in this country.

Create a home for yourself

It can be tempting to hold onto your former home and reminisce about it. Instead of living in the past, begin making a home for yourself in your new country. Like I mentioned above, make new friends. Get involved in the local community and throw yourself into work or a hobby. The more comfortable you feel abroad, the less you’ll experience homesickness.

Go on adventures

A great way to avoid homesickness is by keeping yourself busy; go on some adventures. Explore and get to know your new home. Learn where the locals like to go and gain new experiences. Then, when you feel comfortable, begin traveling around your new country. Plan trips to other nearby places. No matter where you are, there’s always more to see and do.